Incentive

Marketing

Cognitive psychology

Philosophy

Public service

Service (business)

Motivation theory

Microeconomics

Public service motivation

Social psychology

Public relations

Crowding

Economics

Conceptual framework

Business

Empirical research

Public sector

Intrinsic motivation

Psychology

Crowding out

Political science

Monetary economics

Epistemology

Sociology

Autonomy

Economy

Self-determination theory

Public management

Social science

Public Management Review

The relationship between monetary rewards and public service motivation (PSM) has been at the centre of public management research for several decades. Yet the role of performance-contingent rewards in motivating individuals to engage in public service behaviour remains largely contested. This conceptual study aims to reconcile inconsistencies in the literature by considering particular conditions under which performance-contingent incentives may effectively sustain PSM. Drawing on self-determination theory, this study offers a detailed map of the factors that can explain the relationship between performance-related rewards and PSM, while also reconciling contradictory research findings to date and making several propositions for empirical research.

Crowding-in or crowding-out: the contribution of self-determination theory to public service motivation