Balancing Trade‐Offs between Policy Responsiveness and Effectiveness: The Impact of Vertical Policy‐Process Integration on Policy Accumulation

Knill, Christoph; Steinbacher, Christina und Steinebach, Yves (16. Juli 2020): Balancing Trade‐Offs between Policy Responsiveness and Effectiveness: The Impact of Vertical Policy‐Process Integration on Policy Accumulation. In: Public Administration Review: S. 1-4

Abstract

In modern democracies, policy stocks pile up over time. In many ways policy accumulation reflects societal modernization and progress. However, if policy accumulation is not matched by corresponding expansions in administrative capacities necessary for policy implementation, a negative trade‐off between responsiveness and policy effectiveness evolves. We argue that aligning policy formulation and implementation activities through vertical policy‐process integration (VPI) may curb policy accumulation towards a more sustainable level. Our conceptualization of VPI builds upon the distinction of two dimensions: (1) bottom‐up integration affecting policy design and improving policies’ effectiveness and (2) top‐down integration concerning the allocation of implementation costs and, hence, constraining responsiveness incentives. It is the central aim of this viewpoint to raise awareness about the importance of VPI as a potential way out of the responsiveness trap that threatens modern democracies.

• Dokumententyp: Zeitschriftenartikel
• EU Funded Grant Agreement Number: 788941
• EU-Projekte: Horizon 2020 > ERC Grants > ERC Advanced Grant > ERC Grant 788941: ACCUPOL - Unlimited Growth? A Comparative Analysis of Causes and Consequences of Policy Accumulation
• Fakultät: Sozialwissenschaften > Geschwister-Scholl-Institut für Politikwissenschaft
• Themengebiete: 300 Sozialwissenschaften > 320 Politik
• Bemerkung: Online Version of Record before inclusion in an issue
• Sprache: Englisch