Wesley Kaufmann

My main research interests revolve around the evolution of written rules, red tape, and their interplay. More specifically, I have used rule counts to quantify the birth, death, and change of rule stocks in specific policy domains. I am also interested in analyzing the effects of such rule stocks (and their changes) on perceived red tape at the organizational level, as well as from a citizen perspective.

In addition to the "objective" analysis of rules, I am also studying the perceptual components of red tape. When do citizens complain about red tape? Is it when they have to fill out ten documents to get a parking permit, or when the permit is denied? Are some people more likely to perceive rules as red tape than others? I am interested in exploring the psychology behind red tape complaints and its link to objective concepts and measures of written rules. 

I am also working on the topic of good governance. This includes research on corruption and government effectiveness, but also the drivers and characteristics of good governance in developed, rather than developing, countries. 

Click here for my courses.

2016 - present Associate professor, Tilburg University, Tilburg Institute of Governance 

2014 - present Research fellow, Center for Organization Research and Design, Arizona State University

2012 - 2016 Assistant professor, University of Groningen, Faculty of Economics and Business, Accounting Department 

2008 - 2016 Affiliated researcher, University of Groningen, Corporate Governance Insights Center

2008 - 2012 PhD researcher, University of Antwerp (Belgium), Faculty of Applied Economics