IfM-Materialien 20.08.2019 | 2019 Bureaucratic perception of companies

This study examines how companies perceive bureaucracy. Three different kinds of perception types can be identified, depending on the degree of perceived overall burden, the extent of efforts required to fulfil bureaucratic requirements and the degree of emotion caused by bureaucracy; the Unencumbered Type, the Pragmatic Type and the Grumbling Type. More than 50 % of companies in Germany belong to the Grumbling Type. A considerable proportion of companies are sceptical about the benefits of bureaucratic rules and obligations. In addition, they are often not able to fully implement all bureaucratic requirements. A considerable share of companies consciously practice autonomous bureaucracy reduction. At the same time, companies are very willing to support policymakers in the process of bureaucracy reduction.