Core values for ideal civil servants: Service‐oriented, responsive and dedicated

Abstract What do citizens want? How think public servants should behave? Although such questions seem straightforward, little is known about the values expect to uphold. This paper therefore identifies through extensive coding of qualitative data from representative samples United States ( n = 395), Dutch 369), and South Korean 379) citizens. Surprisingly, contrasting assumptions in literature on citizen satisfaction, hardly value effectiveness, efficiency, accountability. In contrast, we found that top three universal desire are serviceability, responsiveness, dedication. These generic across countries, age, gender, education level. However, some more important countries than others. differences show influence a country's longstanding administrative tradition its current situation. Our findings challenge scholars government officials rethink what want their civil servants.