Public service motivation and rational choice modelling

Abstract

While most previous research has considered public service motivation (PSM) as the only motivational factor predicting (public) job choice, the authors present a novel, rational choice-based model which includes three motivational dimensions: extrinsic, enjoyment-based intrinsic and prosocial intrinsic. Besides providing more accurate person-job fit predictions, this new approach fills a significant research gap and facilitates future theory building.

Keywords:

• Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation
• person-job fit
• prosocial motivation
• public service motivation
• rational choice