(available open-access!)

The distribution of decision-making responsibilities makes it difficult for all actors within the chain to understand & challenge administrative decisions and errors. This generates ‘bureaucratic disempowerment’ & complicates accountability efforts - raising critical questions for public law. 4/4

Decision-making processes now spread far beyond civil servants, bringing private actors into extended 'decision chains.' These private actors are 'publicised.' But they do not necessarily know that they are involved in a 'decision chain' at all. 3/4

Using Universal Credit, the UK's digitalised welfare program, as an illustrative case study, we show how the underlying digital infrastructure makes private actors (eg employers) responsible for providing data that, fed into automated systems, directly determines how much claimants are paid. 2/4

Decision-making processes now spread far beyond civil servants, bringing private actors into extended 'decision chains.' These private actors are 'publicised.' But they do not necessarily know that they are involved in a 'decision chain' at all. 3/4

Using Universal Credit, the UK's digitalised welfare program, as an illustrative case study, we show how the underlying digital infrastructure makes private actors (eg employers) responsible for providing data that, fed into automated systems, directly determines how much claimants are paid. 2/4