Decisions as Dynamic Equilibriums in Erratic Policy Processes

Arwin van Buuren and Lasse Gerrits

Public Management Review, 2008, vol. 10, issue 3, 381-399

Abstract: Policy processes are anything but static. In this paper an evolutionary framework derived from complexity theory is explored to explain how policy processes evolve in a non-linear way and how they result in a chain of subsequent policy decisions. Policy change is explained by tracing the way in which the various substituting elements of policy processes influence each other and cause, and are subject to, positive and negative feedback. Policy decisions form internally a temporal stable equilibrium between practical ambitions, normative points of view and factual claims, and externally a temporal equilibrium between policy processes that compete with each other for attention and legitimacy. This theoretical framework is illustrated by an in-depth case study on policy-making on the long-term development of the Westerschelde estuary running between Flanders and the Netherlands. The article concludes with a reflection on the added value of complexity theory for policy analysis.

Date: 2008
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

Downloads: (external link)
http://hdl.handle.net/10.1080/14719030802003038 (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:taf:pubmgr:v:10:y:2008:i:3:p:381-399

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.tandfonline.com/pricing/journal/RPXM20

DOI: 10.1080/14719030802003038

Access Statistics for this article

Public Management Review is currently edited by Professor Stephen P. Osborne, Jenny Harrow and Tobias Jung

More articles in Public Management Review from Taylor & Francis Journals
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Chris Longhurst ().