Hardback
Making Policies Work
First- and Second-order Mechanisms in Policy Design
9781788118187 Edward Elgar Publishing
This is an open access title available under the terms of a CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 License. It is free to read, download and share on Elgaronline.com.
Policy design efforts are hampered by inadequate understanding of how policy tools and actions promote effective policies. The objective of this book is to address this gap in understanding by proposing a causal theory of the linkages between policy actions and policy effects. Adopting a mechanistic perspective, the book identifies the causal processes that activate effects and help achieve goals. It thus offers a powerful analytical tool to both scholars and practitioners of public policy seeking to design effective policies.
Policy design efforts are hampered by inadequate understanding of how policy tools and actions promote effective policies. The objective of this book is to address this gap in understanding by proposing a causal theory of the linkages between policy actions and policy effects. Adopting a mechanistic perspective, the book identifies the causal processes that activate effects and help achieve goals. It thus offers a powerful analytical tool to both scholars and practitioners of public policy seeking to design effective policies.
More Information
Contributors
Contents
More Information
Policy design efforts are often hampered by an inadequate understanding of how policy tools and actions promote effective policies. This book addresses this gap by proposing a causal theory of the linkages between policy actions and policy effects. Adopting a mechanistic perspective, it identifies the causal processes that activate policy effects and help achieve policy goals.
Bringing together established and emerging scholars in the field, Making Policies Work introduces new concepts of first- and second- order policy mechanisms developed from epistemological and theoretical perspectives, and considers how they can be activated through design. Theoretical concepts are explored through empirical cases from different policy arenas and contemporary policy issues such as partnerships in healthcare, food waste prevention, retirement savings, EU regulations and public sector reform.
Graduate students in public policy, public administration and political science will find the powerful analytical tools offered in this book useful in exploring the theoretical elements of effective policy design. Policymakers and practitioners in governmental and non-governmental organisations interested in the practical applications will also benefit from reading this timely book.
Bringing together established and emerging scholars in the field, Making Policies Work introduces new concepts of first- and second- order policy mechanisms developed from epistemological and theoretical perspectives, and considers how they can be activated through design. Theoretical concepts are explored through empirical cases from different policy arenas and contemporary policy issues such as partnerships in healthcare, food waste prevention, retirement savings, EU regulations and public sector reform.
Graduate students in public policy, public administration and political science will find the powerful analytical tools offered in this book useful in exploring the theoretical elements of effective policy design. Policymakers and practitioners in governmental and non-governmental organisations interested in the practical applications will also benefit from reading this timely book.
Contributors
Contributors: S. Busetti, G. Capano, M.E. Compton, B. Dente, C.A. Dunlop, M.T. Galanti, S. Giest, M. Guidi, M. Howlett, E. Lindquist, E. Ongaro, C.M. Radaelli, M. Ramesh, P. ‘t Hart, A. Virani, R K. Weaver, A. Wellstead
Contents
Contents:
PART I INTRODUCTION: WHY STUDY POLICY MECHANISMS?
1. Disentangling the Mechanistic Chain for Better Policy Design
Giliberto Capano, Michael Howlett and M. Ramesh
2. Policy Process Research and the Causal Mechanism Movement: Reinvigorating the Field?
Evert Lindquist and Adam Wellstead
PART II FIRST ORDER MECHANISMS AND CASES
3. Structural Mechanisms Affecting Policy Subsystems Activity: Beyond Individual and Group Behavioural Propensities in Policy Design and Policy Change
Michael Howlett
4. The Mechanisms of Food Waste Prevention: Theory, Design, and Practice for Changing Behaviours \
Simone Busetti and Bruno Dente
5. How Neglecting Policy Mechanisms Can Lead to Policy Failure: Insights from Public-Private Partnerships in India’s Health Sector
Altaf Virani and M. Ramesh
6. Design Activation in Multi-level Settings
Maria Tullia Galanti and Sarah Giest
PART III SECOND ORDER MECHANISMS AND CASES
7. Policy Instruments, Policy Learning and Politics: Impact Assessment in the European Union
Claire A. Dunlop and Claudio M. Radaelli
8. Accountability Mechanisms: The Case of the European Banking Union
Mattia Guidi
9. Advancing the Theory and Practice of Public Sector Reform through the Analysis of Social Mechanisms
Edoardo Ongaro
PART IV USING MECHANISTIC METHODS FOR POLICY DESIGN AND ANALYSIS
10. Reverse Engineering and Policy Design
R. Kent Weaver
11. Looping to Success (and Failure): Second-order Mechanisms and Policy Outcomes
Mallory Compton and Paul ‘t Hart
Index
PART I INTRODUCTION: WHY STUDY POLICY MECHANISMS?
1. Disentangling the Mechanistic Chain for Better Policy Design
Giliberto Capano, Michael Howlett and M. Ramesh
2. Policy Process Research and the Causal Mechanism Movement: Reinvigorating the Field?
Evert Lindquist and Adam Wellstead
PART II FIRST ORDER MECHANISMS AND CASES
3. Structural Mechanisms Affecting Policy Subsystems Activity: Beyond Individual and Group Behavioural Propensities in Policy Design and Policy Change
Michael Howlett
4. The Mechanisms of Food Waste Prevention: Theory, Design, and Practice for Changing Behaviours \
Simone Busetti and Bruno Dente
5. How Neglecting Policy Mechanisms Can Lead to Policy Failure: Insights from Public-Private Partnerships in India’s Health Sector
Altaf Virani and M. Ramesh
6. Design Activation in Multi-level Settings
Maria Tullia Galanti and Sarah Giest
PART III SECOND ORDER MECHANISMS AND CASES
7. Policy Instruments, Policy Learning and Politics: Impact Assessment in the European Union
Claire A. Dunlop and Claudio M. Radaelli
8. Accountability Mechanisms: The Case of the European Banking Union
Mattia Guidi
9. Advancing the Theory and Practice of Public Sector Reform through the Analysis of Social Mechanisms
Edoardo Ongaro
PART IV USING MECHANISTIC METHODS FOR POLICY DESIGN AND ANALYSIS
10. Reverse Engineering and Policy Design
R. Kent Weaver
11. Looping to Success (and Failure): Second-order Mechanisms and Policy Outcomes
Mallory Compton and Paul ‘t Hart
Index
