Abstract. This paper analyses determinants of public managers´ internal and external use of
performance information. Using a sample of over 3100 top public sector executives in six
European countries, we find evidence for significant country variations, with a more limited
use of performance information in France and Germany. It was also found that the use of
performance information is mainly determined by organizational factors rather than
managers’ individual socio-demographic characteristics. The analysis also found considerable differences in patterns of use between policy fields and a lower use of performance indicators in central government ministries. Finally, the implementation of performance management instruments in an organization has an overall strong effect on the actual use of performance information
