Lecturers Page Prof. Lihi Lahat

Prof. Lihi Lahat

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).

Areas of interest and Teaching

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

Teaching

Hebrew lective year: תשפה

Research

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.

Awards

Scholarships, Awards, and Prizes (Last 5 years)
2025, Prize for Gender Equity at Sapir Academic College.
2025, Excellence in Research Achievements at Sapir Academic College.
2023, Excellence in Teaching, Department of Public Policy and Administration at Sapir Academic College.
2023, Excellence in public, community, and activities at Sapir Academic College.
2022, Excellence in public, community, and activities at Sapir Academic College.
2020, Excellence in public, community, and activities at Sapir Academic College.


Grants Awarded
2025, Co-investigator, with Dr. Chen Sharony and Dr. Liran Mimony, ' The Effects of October 7 on the Residents of the Gaza Envelope: Motivation for Employment, Entrepreneurship, Time Sharing, and Emotional Well-Being'. Leumit Group.


2024, ' The relationship between the quality of social policies, use of time, and well-being'. Archimedes Center, Tel-Aviv University.
 
2021, Co-investigator, with Dr. Nathansohn, 'Mixed and Smart Cities: Challenges and Opportunities of Digital Applications'. Truman Institute for the Advancement of Peace, The Hebrew University.
 
2020-2021, Co-investigator, with Dr. Scala and Dr. Keynan, ' Perceptions of Time and Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analysis of Social Media Sites in Canada and Israel'. Partnership Engage Grants Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).

Publications

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 WellBeing, 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” CitiesChallenges 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. 

 

 

 

Presentations

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”.

 2024

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.

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