While policy-makers are motivated by the desire to earn ‘‘credit’’ the concept of ‘‘blame’’ also helps us understand bureaucratic behaviour. This seminar clarifies the concepts of ‘‘blame’’ and ‘‘credit’’ first, the relationship between ‘‘blame’’ and ‘‘credit’’ as motivators of policy agents and activities; second, the related but not synonymous Behavioural notions of ‘‘blame avoidance’’ and ‘‘credit claiming’’; and third, the notions of ‘‘reactive’’ versus ‘‘anticipatory’’ blame avoidance and credit claiming. Blame especially should be studied more widely from the view of the public as well as that of the public official, and both concepts should be analysed as part of the larger issue of the legitimation of public actions, rather than, as is often the case, solely as an aspect of the utilitarian calculations and risk management activities of politicians and officials.