Dr. Claire Kaiser

Work at ZHAW

Position

Research Associate and Project Leader

Focus

• Public management
• Local governance
• Reforms in the public sector
• Organizational design of the public sector

Projects

• Digital Transformation at the Local Tier of Government in Europe: Dynamics and Effects from a Cross-Countries and Over-Time Comparative Perspective / Deputy project leader / completed
• Analysis of Inter-Municipal Collaboration in Service Delivery in the Austrian Federal State Vorarlberg / Project leader / completed
• Analysis of Service Delivery of Albaniane Municipalities (Scoping Mission) / Team member / completed
• Data Monitoring Local Communities in Switzerland / Co-project leader / completed

Publications

Articles in scientific journal, peer-reviewed

• Ege, J., Kaiser, C. and Steiner, R. (2025) 'Explaining patterns of co-creation in Swiss local governance', Public Management Review, 28(6), pp. 1644–1666. doi: 10.1080/14719037.2025.2505149.
• Steiner, R. et al. (2018) 'Is local always better? Strengths and limitations of local governance for service delivery', International Journal of Public Sector Management, 31(4), pp. 394–409. doi: 10.1108/IJPSM-05-2018-226.
• Steiner, R. and Kaiser, C. (2017) 'Effects of amalgamations : evidence from Swiss municipalities', Public Management Review, 19(2), pp. 232–252. doi: 10.1080/14719037.2016.1153704.
• Kaiser, C. (2015) 'Top-down versus bottom-up : comparing strategies of municipal mergers in Western European countries', dms – der moderne staat – Zeitschrift für Public Policy, Recht und Management, 2015(1), pp. 113–127. doi: 10.3224/dms.v8i1.19113.
• Kaiser, C. (2014) 'Functioning and impact of incentives for amalgamations in a federal state : the Swiss case', International Journal of Public Administration, 37(10), pp. 625–637. doi: 10.1080/01900692.2014.903265.
• Steiner, R. and Kaiser, C. (2013) 'Rolle der Kantone bei Gemeindefusionen in der Schweiz', Verwaltung & Management, 19(3), pp. 144–149. doi: 10.5771/0947-9856-2013-3-144.

Books, peer-reviewed

• Steiner, R. et al. (2021) Zustand und Entwicklung der Schweizer Gemeinden : Ergebnisse des nationalen Gemeindemonitorings 2017. Glarus: Somedia Buchverlag. doi: 10.21256/zhaw-3134.
• Kaiser, C. (2016) Papers on strategies, incentives and effects of amalgamation in Switzerland. Doctoral dissertation. KPM-Verlag.

Book chapters, peer-reviewed

• Kaiser, C., Machljankin, J. and Steiner, R. (2025) 'Swiss local government associations and the representation of urban and rural interests', in Kössler, K. and Belser, E. M. (eds) Local government structure and intergovernmental relations : an urban-rural perspective. Cham: Springer, pp. 271–288. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-99820-1_16.
• Kaiser, C., Steiner, R. and Machljankin, J. (2023) 'Corporatisation in Swiss local government', in Van Genugten, M. et al. (eds) Corporatisation in local government : context, evidence and perspectives from 19 countries. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 221–242. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-09982-3_10.
• Kaiser, C. and Machljankin, J. (2022) 'Digitalisierung und digitale Transformation in den Schweizer Gemeinden : Stand und Entwicklung', in Pleger, L. E. and Mertes, A. (eds) Digitale Transformation der öffentlichen Verwaltung in der Schweiz : Stand, Entwicklungslinien und Praxisbeispiele. Wiesbaden: Springer, pp. 61–88. doi: 10.1007/978-3-658-36591-2_4.
• Steiner, R. and Kaiser, C. (2018) 'Inter-municipal Cooperation in Switzerland', in Teles, F. and Swianiewicz, P. (eds) Inter-municipal cooperation in Europe : institutions and governance. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 173–187. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-62819-6_9.
• Steiner, R., Kaiser, C. and Reichmuth, L. (2018) 'Consulting for the public sector in Europe', in Ongaro, E. and Van Thiel, S. (eds) The Palgrave handbook of public administration and management in Europe. London: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 475–495. doi: 10.1057/978-1-137-55269-3_25.
• Steiner, R. and Kaiser, C. (2017) 'Democracy and citizens" engagement', in Klassen, T. R., Cepiku, D., and Lah, T. J. (eds) The Routledge handbook of global public policy and administration. London: Routledge, pp. 167–178.
• Steiner, R. and Kaiser, C. (2016) 'Preventing corruption in the public administration : shown using the example of switzerland', in Kovbasyuk, Y. and Fedorenko, V. (eds) Anti-corruption policies and preventing and combating corruption in public service in state and local government. Kiev: NAPA, pp. 113–118.
• Steiner, R., Kaiser, C. and Eythorsson, G. T. (2016) 'A comparative analysis of amalgamation reforms in selected european countries', in Kuhlmann, S. and Bouckaert, G. (eds) Local public sector reforms in times of crisis : national trajectories and international comparisons. London: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 23–42. doi: 10.1057/978-1-137-52548-2_2.
• Steiner, R. and Kaiser, C. (2013) 'Die Gemeindeverwaltungen', in Ladner, A. et al. (eds) Handbuch der öffentlichen Verwaltung. Zürich: Neue Zürcher Zeitung, pp. 149–166.
• Steiner, R. and Kaiser, C. (2012) 'Herausforderungen der Bürgerbeteiligung', in Schröter, E., von Maravic, P., and Röber, J. (eds) Zukunftsfähige Verwaltung? : Herausforderungen und Lösungsstrategien in Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz. Opladen: Barbara Budrich, pp. 187–206.

Written conference contributions, peer-reviewed

• Steiner, R. and Kaiser, C. (2018) 'Amalgamation and inter-municipal cooperation: alternative or consecutive re-form strategies? : an analysis based on an empirical longitudinal study of Swiss local governments', in ECPR General Conference, Hamburg, Germany, 22-25 August 2018. Available at: https://ecpr.eu/Filestore/PaperProposal/83997573-83e4-491e-937f-45c95f5c09eb.pdf.
• Steiner, R., Kaiser, C. and Reichmuth, L. (2015) 'What structural factors influence public service delivery? : lessons learned from a study of swiss municipalities', in Minderman, G. and Reddy, P. S. (eds) Innovation for the urban age : innovative approaches to public governance for the new urban age. The Hague: Eleven International Publishing, pp. 99–128.

Other publications

• Kaiser, C., Steiner, R. and Machljankin, J. (2024) 'Raumplanung sowie Betreuung Asylsuchender bereiten Gemeinden Probleme', Schweizer Gemeinde, 2024(12), pp. 28–29. Available at: https://www.schweizer-gemeinde.ch/artikel/raumplanung-sowie-betreuung-asylsuchender-bereiten-gemeinden-probleme.
• Kaiser, C., Machljankin, J. and Marquardt, J. (2023) 'DIGILOG : Einblicke in ein internationales Forschungsprojekt zur digitalen Transformation in Städten und Gemeinden Europas', SGVW Blog. Available at: https://sgvw.ch/internationales-projekt-zur-digitalen-transformation-in-staedten-und-gemeinden-europas/.
• Kaiser, C., Machljankin, J. and Lang, A. (2022) Zusammenarbeit der Gemeinden im Suhrental. Winterthur: ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften. doi: 10.21256/zhaw-33889.
• Machljankin, J., Kaiser, C. and Steiner, R. (2021) 'Les hommes dominent la politique communale', Schweizer Gemeinde, 2021(1/2), pp. 26–27. doi: 10.21256/zhaw-22067.
• Kaiser, C., Machljankin, J. and Steiner, R. (2021) 'Les communes déplorent une constante perte d'autonomie', Schweizer Gemeinde, 2021(1/2), pp. 36–37. doi: 10.21256/zhaw-22068.
• Lang, A., Kaiser, C. and Machljankin, J. (2021) Prüfbericht Gemeindefusion Bubikon – Dürnten – Rüti. Winterthur: ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften. doi: 10.21256/zhaw-33890.
• Steiner, R., Kaiser, C. and Machljankin, J. (2020) 'Come prende forma la politica nei comuni svizzeri', Schweizer Gemeinde, 2020(12), pp. 14–29. Available at: https://schweizer-gemeinde.cld.bz/12-20.
• Steiner, R. et al. (2020) Die Public Corporate Governance der Schweizer Kantone und grösseren Städte : eine empirische Analyse. Bern: KPM-Verlag. Available at: https://www.kpm.unibe.ch/unibe/portal/center_generell/a_title_strat_forschung/k_kpm/content/e69701/e69704/e139214/pane1313321/e1313404/SR_58_online_ger.pdf.
• Steiner, R. and Kaiser, C. (2020) Wider den Moral Hazard : Lehren aus der Finanzkrise. Bern: KPM-Verlag.
• Steiner, R., Kaiser, C. and Machljankin, J. (2020) 'Parteilose regieren die Schweiz : Ältere bestimmen vermehrt das politische Leben', Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 241(244), p. 9. Available at: https://www.nzz.ch/schweiz/gemeinden-parteilose-maenner-und-aeltere-sind-in-exekutive-ld.1581787.
• Steiner, R. and Kaiser, C. (2016) 'Switzerland', in Merloni, F. (ed.) Regionalisation trends in european countries 2007-2015 : a study by members of the group of independent experts of the european charter of local self-government. Strasbourg: Council of Europe, pp. 208–213.
• Steiner, R., Kaiser, C. and Reichmuth, L. (2015) Entwicklungsoptionen für den Zukunftsraum Aarau : Bericht im Auftrag der 11 Gemeinden Aarau, Biberstein, Buchs (AG), Densbüren, Erlinsbach (AG), Küttigen, Muhen, Oberentfelden, Schönenwerd (SO), Suhr und Unterentfelden. Bern: KPM.
• Steiner, R. and Kaiser, C. (2013) 'Administration communale', in Ladner, A. et al. (eds) Manuel d'administration publique suisse. Lausanne: Presses Polytechniques et Universitaires Romandes, pp. 143–160.
• Ladner, A. et al. (2013) Gemeindemonitoring 2009/2010 : Bericht zur fünften gesamtschweizerischen Gemeindeschreiberbefragung. Bern: KPM.

Research data

Steiner, Reto; Ladner, Andreas; Kaiser, Claire; Haus, Alexander; Amsellem, Ada; Machljankin, Jana, 2019. Gemeindemonitoring der Schweizer Gemeinden. SWISSUbase. Available from: https://doi.org/10.23662/FORS-DS-1116-1

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