Administrative burdens—the learning, compliance, and psychological costs citizens face when interacting with government—have become a significant research area. These burdens disproportionately affect vulnerable groups and threaten administrative equity, particularly in welfare systems. Scholars are increasingly investigating strategies to reduce or mitigate these burdens, including fostering citizen resources through intermediaries and improving organizational design and communication practices.
This special issue seeks contributions examining burden-reduction initiatives undertaken by various actors across different contexts and levels of governance. It welcomes research investigating how public organizations, managers, and street-level bureaucrats can reduce administrative burdens, which interventions are effective, whether they benefit all groups equally, and how burden-reduction efforts are perceived within public administration. The issue aims to generate societal impact by addressing challenges relevant to practitioners and policymakers working to reduce administrative burdens.