The Public Interest and Administrative Discretion

Abstract

The public interest is a much neglected concept that has powerful symbolic and instrumental value. Building on the work of Goodsell, this article provides a framework to examine the degree to which a policy or program is in the public interest. This research presents four cases that illustrate how serving the public interest in a democracy requires ongoing concern with not only what is done but also with how it is done. Furthermore, the cases demonstrate that public administrators can heavily influence the degree to which a policy or program is in the public interest.