Areas of interest
- Collaborative Governance
- Trust and Well-being in Public Organizations
- Uses of Time and Policy
- Well-being and Policy
- Regulation of Social Services
- Public sector employees
- Policy perceptions
פרופסור ליהיא להט (פרופסור חבר), היא חוקרת ומרצה במחלקה למנהל ומדיניות ציבורית במכללה האקדמית ספיר ו-Affiliate Associate Professor, Azrieli Institute of Israel Studies, Concordia University, Montreal.
Lihi Lahat, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Public Administration and Policy Department at Sapir Academic College, Israel, and an Affiliate Associate Professor in the Azrieli Institute of Israel Studies, Department of Political Science, Concordia University, Montreal. Her research focuses on collaborative governance, regulation, government digitization, time and well-being, and public employees. Her work has been published in leading journals, including Policy Sciences, Social Policy & Administration, International Review of Administrative Sciences, Journal of Management & Governance, The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Review of Public Personnel Administration, Journal of European Social Policy, and Public Management Review. She co-edited Collaborative Governance: Theory and Lessons from Israel (Palgrave Macmillan, 2021). Lahat was a visiting scholar at Concordia University (2018, 2022), Michigan State University (2019), and the University of California, Berkeley (2024).
As a researcher in public policy and public administration,
I aim to gain a deeper understanding of how governments operate and their
impact on our lives. Moreover, I am interested in exploring ways to enhance the
effectiveness of government actions. My research orientation is grounded in the
neo-institutional approach, and I am interested in how institutional
arrangements, in their broader sense, influence policy outcomes. I am drawn to
comparative and multi-disciplinary perspectives and utilize different methods
as my research questions require. Since public policy and public administration
are intertwined, I explore both fields.
Referred Articles in Scientific Journals
(peer-reviewed):
Published (or in press)
Lahat, L. Sharony, C. Van-Dam G., & Sharon, N.
(2025). The Relationship Between
Perceptions of Social Service Quality and Subjective Well‐Being,
Social Policy & Administration. 🔗
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/spol.13141
Lahat, L., Sharony, C., Abraham, V, Lev, O., &
Avigur-Eshel, A. (2025). Effect
of Values, Institutional Trust, and Risk Perceptions on Support for Policy
Tools in Immunisation against Covid-19: A Comparative Study, Journal
of Comparative Policy Analysis, 27(1), 81-104. [link]
Lahat, L. & Nathansohn, R. (2025). Challenges and
Opportunities for Equity in Public Management: The Case of Digital Applications
in Multicultural Cities. Public Management Review. 27(2), 520-543. [Link]
Lahat, L. & Sened, I. (2024). Behavioural Knowledge for
Policy Design: The Connection between Time Use Behaviours and (or) Desires and
Support for Policy Alternatives. Social Policy & Administration,
[Link]
Lahat, L., Keynan, O. & Scala F. (2024).
Capitalising on Twitter for Policy Learning during Crises: The Case of the
Covid-19 Pandemic, International Journal of Public Administration [Link]
Lahat, L., Kelenk, T., & Pitkowsky-Nave, N.
(2023). Street-Level Bureaucrats as Policy Entrepreneurs and
Collaborators: Findings from Israel and Germany. European Policy
Analysis [Link]
Lahat, L. Sharony, C. & Sened, I. (2023). Uses of time
and preferences for uses of time and gender differences: Findings from Israel and thoughts
about policy, Journal of Social Security. (Hebrew (.
[Link]
Lahat, L. & Sened, I. (2023). The politics and
policies of sleep? Empirical findings and the policy context.” Policy
Studies 44, no. 3 (2023): 408-430.The Politics and Policies of Sleep?
Empirical Findings and the Policy Context, Policy Studies no.
3 (2023): 408-430. [Link]
Nathansohn, R. & Lahat, L. (2022). From Urban
Vitality to Urban Vitalisation: Trust, Distrust, and Citizenship Regimes in a Smart City
Initiative, Cities. 131, 103969. [Link]
Lahat, L., & Ofek, D. (2022). Emotional
well-being among public employees: A comparative perspective. Review
of Public Personnel Administration. [Link]
Lahat, L., & Sabah, Y. (2021). Effects of different
kinds of trust and leadership on outputs of collaborative processes: the case
of personal social services in Israel. International Journal of
Public Sector Management, 34 (3), 336-355. [Link]
Lahat, L., & Sabah, Y. (2020). Adaptive
Regulation: A Possible Model for Regulation and Innovation in Personal Social
Services. Israel Studies Review, 35 (3), 11-30. [Link]
Lahat, L. (2020). Changing expectations? The
change in the role of Ministry in the regulation of personal social
services, The American Academy of Political and Social Science –
ANNALS 691 Special issue 691(1), 153-173. [Link]
Lahat, L., & Sened, I. (2020). Time and Well-Being,
An Institutional, Comparative Perspective. Is it Time to explore the idea of a
Time Policy? Journal of European Social Policy, Vol. 30 (3):
275-292. [Link]
Lahat, L., & Sher Hadar, N. (2020). A Threefold
Perspective: Conditions for Collaborative Governance. Journal of
Management and Governance. 24 (1), 117-134. [Link]
Lahat, L. (2019). The Challenge of the Academia -
Practitioner Connection: The Case of Social Services in Israel. International
Review of Administrative Sciences. 85 (1), 173-190. [Link]
Lahat, L. (2018). The Effects of Knowledge about
Poverty, Exposure to Poverty and Trust on Policymakers’ Perceptions about
Poverty. Social Policy & Administration, 52(3), 611-630. [Link]
Lahat, L. (2018). Swimming on Land: Some Suggestions
for Today's Public Administration. Perspectives, Employee
Responsibilities and Rights Journal, 30(3), 229–238. [Link]
Lahat, L. & Sabah, Y. (2018) Adapted
regulation as a possible model for personal social services: Theoretical and
practical aspects. Society and Welfare. Vol.38, 149-174
(Hebrew). [Link]
Van de Walle, S.,
& Lahat, L. (2017). Do Public Officials Trust Citizens? A
Welfare State Perspective. Social Policy & Administration. 51(7),
1450-1469. [Link]
Lahat, L., & Talit, G. (2015). Regulation of Personal
Social Services - The Israeli Experience. Social Policy &
Administration, 49(3), 335-355. [Link]
Lahat, L., & Sher-Hadar, N. (2015). Public Value
Failures and the Israeli Public Protest. 'Social Security' Journal
of Social Security, 96, 29-53. [Link]
(Hebrew)
Lahat, L., & Talit, G. (2012). Regulatory Mechanisms in
Personal Social Services: The Case of Israel, Journal of Social
Security, 90, 81-120. [Link]
(Hebrew)
Lahat, L. (2011). How Can Leaders' Perceptions Guide
Policy Analysis in an Era of Governance? Policy Sciences,
44(2), 135-155. [Link]
Lahat, L., & Menahem, G. (2009). Causes and
Remedies for Poverty: Perceptions among Local Elected Leaders in Israel. Journal
of Poverty and Public Policy, 1, (2), 1-31. [Link]
Lahat, L. (2009). The Individual’s Fault or the Society?
Policymakers' Perceptions of Poverty in Israel, Journal of Social
Security, 80, 58-102. (Hebrew) [Link]
Lahat, L., Menahem, G. & Katan, J. (2007).
Attitudes of Heads of Local Authorities in Israel: The Sources of Poverty and
Ways to Deal with Poverty, Israeli Sociology, 9(1), 71-101.
(Hebrew([Link]
Menahem, G., Lahat, L. with Simantov, A. (2006). The
Dilemmas of New Governance: A View from the Social Capital Perspective, Israeli
Sociology, 7(2), 397-424. (Hebrew). [Link]
Other Scientific Publications:
Nathansohn, R. & Lahat, L. (2022).
“Smart” and “Mixed” Cities:
Challenges and Opportunities of Digital Applications. Research report. The
Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace. Equal
contribution.
Lahat, L & Sened, I. (2019). Time and Policy:
Uses of time, policy preferences, and policy perceptions. Research report.
The National Insurance Institute of Israel. [Link]
Lahat, L., & Sher Hadar, N. (2017). Collaborative
governance: Literature review (draft for discussion). Jerusalem: The Center for
Social Justice and Democracy in Memory of Yakov Chazan at the Van Leer
Jerusalem Institute [Link].
Books
Sher Hadar, N., Lahat, L &
Galnoor, I. (Eds.) (2021). Collaborative Governance. Theory and Lessons
from Israel (Palgrave -Macmillan). [Link]
1(a). *Sher-Hadar, N., Lahat, L & Galnoor, I. (Eds.) (2022). Collaborative Governance in
Israel: Theoretical and Practical Aspects. Van Leer Institute Press and
Hakibutz Hameuhad Press. (310 pp.) (Hebrew
version).
Book chapters
Lahat, L. &
Klenk, T. & Talias, M. (2024). “Collaborative Practices in the
Regulatory Welfare State? A Societal Values Perspective.”
10.1007/978-3-031-70969-2_6. In Tanja Klenk, Mirko Noordegraaf,
Elisabetta Notarnicola, Karsten Vrangbæk [Eds]: Societal Value of
Welfare Politics, Policies and Services, (pp.127-148). Switzerland: Palgrave
Macmillan
Lahat, L. (2022). The Institutional Approach in Public
Policy. In: Public Policy (253-295). Levi Yagil, Lilach Litor, and Orr Karassin
(Eds.) The Open University: Raanana (Hebrew).
Lahat, L. and Sher-Hadar N. (2021). Introduction:
Collaborative Governance. In: Sher Hadar, N., Lahat, L &
Galnoor, I. (Eds.) Collaborative Governance: Theory and Lessons from
Israel (pp. 1-24). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Lahat L. and Sher-Hadar (2021). A threefold perspective:
condition for collaborative governance. In: Sher Hadar, N., Lahat, L &
Galnoor, I. (Eds.) Collaborative Governance: Theory and Lessons from
Israel (pp. 77-100). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Apel, N., & Lahat, L. (2021).
Example: The Partnership for Regional Sustainability as a Collaborative
Governance Arrangement. In Sher Hadar, N., Lahat, L & Galnoor, I.
(Eds.) Collaborative Governance: Theory and Lessons from Israel (pp.
267-275). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Sher-Hadar N. and Lahat, L. (2021). Conclusions:
Collaborative Governance. In: Sher Hadar, N., Lahat, L &
Galnoor, I. (Eds.) Collaborative Governance: Theory and Lessons from
Israel (pp. 277-293). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Lahat, L., & Sher Hadar, N. (2019) Coping with the
implementation challenge: Decision-making strategies and their implications for
collaborative governance. In Editors: Kekez, A., Howlett, M. and Ramesh,
M. Collaboration in Public Service Delivery: Promise and
Pitfalls. (pp.255-267). Edward Elgar DOI:
10.4337/9781788978583.00026 [Link]
Lahat, L. (2019). New institutionalism in Public Policy.
Global Encyclopedia of Public Administration, Public Policy, and Governance.
Ed: Professor Ali Farazmand. [Link]
Book Reviews (Hebrew)
Lahat, L. (2023). “The Hidden Tier of Social Services”. Einat
Lavee. Journal of Social Security, 164-168.
Lahat, L. (2019) “For the welfare state”, Abraham Doron,
Benish, A. and Gal, J. (Eds.), Journal of Social Security, 107. [Link]
Lahat, L. (2015). Governance - a Very Short Introduction,
Mark Bevir. Oxford University Press. Journal
of Social Security, 96, 155-158. [Link]
Lahat, L. (2011). Social Security as a Public Interest: A
Multidisciplinary Inquiry into the Foundations of the Regulatory Welfare State,
Gijsbert Vonk and Albertjan Tollenaar (eds.), Social Europe Series 24, Antwerp,
Oxford, Portland: Intersentia, Journal of Social Security. 86,
137-142. [Link]
Lahat, L. (2008). Social Justice, Legitimacy and the Welfare
State, Steffen Mau and Benjamin Veghte (Eds.), Journal of Social
Security, 78, 160-164. [Link]
Other Publications:
Lahat, L. (2022). Is
It Possible That Policy Affects Our Sleep? ISQOLS - International Society for
Quality-of-Life Studies – blog - https://isqols.org/news/12828450
and ESPAnet Israel
website.
Nathansohn, R. and Lahat, L. (2022). Smart” and
“Mixed” Cities: Challenges and Opportunities of Digital
Applications. Research report. The Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the
Advancement of Peace.
Lahat, L. (2020). Public sector employee’s emotional
well-being in challenging times, ISQOLS - International Society for
Quality-of-Life Studies - blog – https://isqols.org/news/9220341 and
Espanet Israel website.
Lahat, L. (2020). Thoughts about time in times of
quarantine, ISQOLS - International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies - blog
- https://isqols.org/news/8929877 and
Espanet Israel website.
Lahat, L., & Sher Hadar, N. "The Hidden Challenges
of the Current Government". Maariv, http://www.maariv.co.il/journalists/journalists/Article-478872,
31/5/2015.
Lahat, L., & Talit, G. (2011). Work in Process or a
Necessary Change? Regulation of Personal Social Services in Israel. Policy
Paper no. 2011.02. Jerusalem: Taub Center. (Hebrew).
Lahat, L. "The War is not between Capitalists and
Socialists". The Marker, Haaretz 23/10/2008.
Lahat, L. "The Ugly Face of the Government", The
Marker, Haaretz, 26/5/2008.
Lahat. L. "Leave Ireland", Haaretz,
20/4/2006.
Presentation of Papers at Conferences (peer-reviewed):
2025
The International Research Society for Public Management
(IRSPM), Bologna, Italy
Lahat, L., Sharony, C., & Sowa, J. Rhetoric versus
reality? A Comparative Study of Public/Private Differences in Employee
Discrimination
Lahat, L. & Levitats, Z. Nothing to fear about’:
Street-level Bureaucrats’ Experiences of Fear in Public Sector Organizations.
2024
American Political Science Association 12Oth APSA,
Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Lahat, L. “Public Administration, Trust, and Co-Production
in Times of Crisis: Local Leaders' Experiences from an Extreme Crisis”
2024
12th Annual EAIS & 40th Annual AIS Joint
Conference, Charles University, Prague
Lahat, L. “Public Administration, Trust, and Co-Production
in Times of Crisis: Local Leaders' Experiences from an Extreme Military Crisis”
2024
Midwest Political Science Association- 81st MPSA, Chicago, IL, USA.
Lahat, L. & Ansell, C. “Collaborative Governance as a Grand Theory”.
Lahat, L., Sharony, C., Sharon, N. & Van Dum, G. “The
Relationship Between Perceptions of Social Service Quality and Well-being (or
vice versa?)”.
2023
International Conference of Public Policy (ICPP6).
University of Toronto (Virtual).
Lahat, L. & Sharony, C. (with Lev, O., Abraham, V.,
Avigur-Eshel, A.). “The Effect of Values, Institutional Trust, and Risk
Perceptions on Support for Policy Tools in the Area of Immunization against
Covid-19: A Comparative Study”.
2023
Association of Israel Studies (AIS), New York University, USA.
Lahat, L. & Regev Nathansohn. “Social Equity in Public Administration:
Digital Applications in Smart City Projects in 'Mixed' Cities in Israel”.
2023
Midwest Political Science Association Conference (MPSA),
Chicago, USA.
Lahat, L. (With Sharony, C., Lev, O., Abraham, V.,
Avigur-Eshel, A) “The Effect of Values, Institutional Trust, and Risk
Perceptions on Support for Policy Tools in the Area of Immunization against
Covid-19: A Comparative Study”.
2022
European Group for Public Administration (EGPA), ISCSP,
Lisbon, Portugal
Lahat, L., Klenk, T. & Pitowsky-Nave, N. “Street-Level
Bureaucrats as Policy Entrepreneurs and Collaborators: Findings from Israel and
Germany.”
2022
The European Network for Social Policy Analysis (ESPAnet),
University of Vienna, Austria.
Lahat, L., Klenk, T., & Pitkowsky-Nave, N. “Street-Level
Bureaucrats as Policy Entrepreneurs and Collaborators: Findings from
Israel and Germany”.
2021
International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, ISQOLS,
(Virtual). Lahat, L., Scala, F., & Keynan, O. “Perceptions of Time and
Well-Being during the Covid-19 Pandemic: An Analysis of Social Media Sites and
Implications for Policy”.
2021
International Conference of Public Policy, ICPP5, Barcelona
(Virtual). And IPSA-AISP, 26th World Congress of Political Science, Lisbon
(Virtual). And the 9th European Association of Israel Studies (EAIS) Bucharest
(Virtual)
Lahat, L. &; Sened, I. "The connection between behaviors, desires, and
policy alternatives as a feedback mechanism that reinforces policy design
and policy tools".
2021
The Association of Israel Studies, AIS, University of
Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Virtual). And the International Conference of
Public Policy, ICPP5, Barcelona (Virtual).
Regev Nathansohn & Lahat, L. "Can Distrust Lead to Citizens’
Involvement in Smart Cities? The Israeli Case of a Neighbourhood in
Haifa".
2019
International Conference of Public Policy, ICPP4, Concordia
University, Montreal. Lahat, L. "Changing expectations? The
regulation of personal social services".
2018
Midwest Political Science Association- 76th MPSA, Chicago,
IL, USA.
Lahat, L. & Sened, I. "Is It Time for a Time Policy? Time Uses and
Subjective Well-being".
2017
ISQOLS 15th Conference, Quality of Life: Towards a Better
Society, Innsbruck, Austria. Lahat, L. & Sened, I. "Uses of Time and
Social Outcomes".
2017
International Conference of Public Policy, Lee Kuan Yew
School of Public Policy, Singapore. Lahat, L., & Sher-Hadar, N.
"Collaborative Governance, and Public Values: Examples from the Israeli
Case."
2015
Policy & Politics conference, University of Bristol,
Bristol, UK.
Lahat, L. "Academia and Practice: The Challenge of
Collaboration".
2014
Policy & Politics conference, Bristol University,
Bristol, UK
Lahat, L., & Sabah, Y. "Leadership and Trust in an Era of
Collaborative Governance: The Case of an Outcome-Oriented Project in the
Israeli Social Services".
2011
International Summer School, Collegio Carlo Alberto, [Beyond
New Public Management?] University of Turin, Italy
Lahat, L., & Talit, G. "The Challenge of Building
Regulatory Mechanisms in the Era of New Public Management: The Case of Personal
Social Services in Israel".
In Israel (in recent years)
2025
ESPAnet Israel, Academic College of Tel-Aviv-Yaffo
Lahat, L. “Public Administration, Trust, and Co-Production
in Times of Crisis: Local Leaders' Experiences from an Extreme Military Crisis”.
Sapir Research Conference, Sapir Academic College
(a) Public Administration, Trust, and Co-Production in Times
of Crisis: Local Leaders' Experiences from an Extreme Military Crisis
(b)The Relationship between Perceptions of Social Service
Quality and Well-being
2023
ESPAnet Israel, Haifa University, and Israel Political
Science Association, Tel-Aviv University -“The Effect of Values, Trust, and
Risk Perceptions on Support for Policy Tools in the Area of Immunization
against Covid-19: A Comparative Study” (With Chen Sharony, Ori Lev, Villy
Abraham, Amit Avigur-Eshel).
2022
Association for Israel Studies, AIS. Lahat, L. Keynan. O, & Scala, F. “The
Government-Citizen Relationship as Reflected in Facebook:
A Comparison of Israel and Ontario During Covid-19”, Bar-Ilan University.
2022
ESPAnet Israel, Lahat, L. Keynan. O, & Scala, F. ”The ‘canary
in the coal mine’ – Social Media Sites as a Tool for Public Administration
Learning: Perceptions of Time and Well-Being during the Covid-19
Pandemic”, The Hebrew University.
2019
Lahat, L. & Sened, I. "Time and policy: Time uses,
time preferences and policy perceptions in Israel", Western Galilee
College, Israel.
2019
Lahat, L. "Changing expectations? The regulatory
narrative of personal social services", Regulation for welfare:
International workshop, Hebrew University, Israel.
2019
Lahat, L. & Sened, I. "Time and policy: Time uses,
time preferences and policy perceptions in Israel," Espanet Israel, Ruppin
Academic Center, Israel.
2018
Lahat, L. & Sabah, Y. "Adapted regulation as a
possible model for personal social services: Theoretical and practical
aspects".; Sher-Hadar, N. & Lahat L. "Collaborative Governance
and Public Values: Examples from the Israeli Case".; Lahat, L. &
Sened, I. "Is It Time for a Time Policy? Time Uses and Subjective
Well-being". ESPAnet Israel, The Academic College of Emek Yezreel, Israel.
2017
Lahat, L., & Ofek, D. "Public Employees'
Well-being", Israel Political Science Association, Tel-Aviv-Yafo Academic
College, Israel.
2017
Lahat, L., & Ofek, D. "Public Employees' Well-being", ESPAnet Israel, Bar-Ilan, University, Israel.