Policy effectiveness and capacity: two sides of the design coin

Abstract

Policy capacity and effectiveness are two themes that have opened new pathways for academic and empirical enquiry throughout the policy sciences. In the contemporary discourse of policy design, effectiveness has taken on a more foundational meaning that goes beyond what is understood as only the attainment of specific policy goals. Rather, it has come to occupy a central position in the study of policy design, signifying the broader logic of deliberate policy action used to articulate policy problems and present alternative ways of addressing them. Effectiveness thus signals both effectual processes as well as successful policy outcomes. However, what constitutes effective design is a question that still reflects a largely dispersed body of research within the policy sciences. This article and others in this special issue, aim to address the topic of effective design from the perspective of capacity, defined as the inherent analytical, managerial and political capabilities of policymakers to bring about effective policy solutions.

Comparative Analysis of Methods for Evaluating Efficiency of Regional Investment Policy

“…The analysis of foreign literature [1][2][3][4][5] on investment development of the country and particular territories shows that the investment climate is an intensively studied area while investment policy, analysis and efficiency evaluation is a less studied area. The investment climate is considered in regional development as an integral indicator of the "quality" of the investment environment in a certain territory.…”

Policy capacities and effective policy design: a review

“…Such studies on policy instrument mixes and programs highlight the primary role of analytical capacity in developing and deploying effective instrument mixes. However, it can be insufficient if not operating alongside suitable organizational and political capacities, which ultimately determine how successfully they are implemented (Bali et al, 2019 ; Mukherjee & Bali, 2019 ). In other words, analytical capabilities are enhanced or sharpened by operational and political capacity endowments at the level of organizations.…”

“…That is, it inspires building on the research questions surrounding how specific policy interventions are devised to address specific types of problems, with notions of what is fundamentally needed to enable these designs. The most well-intentioned efforts at policy design can be constrained by the capabilities of governments, and those involved in the design process (Mukherjee & Bali, 2019 ). Forwarding such a research agenda can further refine the generalizable hypotheses to investigate and improve policy deliberations regarding effective policy formulation, which already inform the policy sciences (Howlett & Lejano, 2013 ; Howlett et al, 2015a , Howlett et al, 2015b ).…”

“…Effective design subsequently involves applying the knowledge gained about instrument-target relationships, to the creation of policies that can then predictably lead to desired policy outcomes (Bobrow & Dryzek, 1987 ; Gilabert & Lawford-Smith, 2012 ; Peters, 2018 ; Sidney, 2007 ; Weaver, 2009a , 2009b ). These activities are prefaced on the assumption that feasible polices can be realistically generated through effective design processes only when, firstly, contradictions internal to the substantive content of policy are resolved or minimized, and secondly, when the necessary capacities and capabilities to enact design procedures are in place (Bali et al, 2019 ; Mukherjee & Bali, 2019 ).…”

Pandemic, politics and pandemonium: political capacity and Singapore’s response to the Covid-19 crisis

“…According to Kugler (2018, 1), political capacity refers to the "ability of political systems to carry out the tasks chosen by the nation's government in the face of domestic and international groups with competing priorities." This connection between capacity and policy outcome is emphasized by Mukherjee and Bali (2019), who relate capacity to policymakers' ability to bring about effective policy solutions.…”