In search of public values in performance budgeting studies

Abstract Performance budgeting is inevitably linked to policy priorities, and priorities are fundamentally the expression of public values. Through a bibliometric analysis of past studies, this study shows that over time, the performance budgeting literature is linked to more diverse values beyond efficiency and effectiveness concerns. Transparency, democracy, participation, inclusiveness, and other political, legal, social, and sustainability values have been getting more attention in public administration, accounting, and budgeting journals, as well as in various field journals. This study concludes by suggesting a need for more interdisciplinary and comparative research about the normative foundation of performance budgeting and its connection with public value theory in the future.