Risk in public administration: a systematic review focused on a future research agenda

Abstract

Risk as a research phenomenon in the government sector is still an embryonic, challenging, and multifaceted subject. This study aimed to review the existing literature around risk in Public Administration and outline future research directions within this area based on mapping the existing production in the five main journals specialized in public administration. The researched studies were analyzed and classified according to the area or government sector and organizational levels in which the research was conducted, seeking to identify the relationship between risk and other analysis factors and theories. This article contributes theoretically and methodologically to advancing the field of knowledge, synthesizing existing publications, pointing out gaps in the literature, and proposing theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches that address the dynamics of the risk phenomenon in future research. In addition, it contributes practically to professionals who deal with risk in the public context, managers, public servants, and private partners, among others.