Policy transfer and convergence within the UK: the case of local government performance improvement regimes

Abstract

Analysis of the development and implementation of local government performance improvement regimes in England, Scotland and Wales over the last decade reveals congruence in policy goals but divergence in policy implementation and outcomes. The governments in all three countries had a common aim of improving local government performance. However, differences in ideology, the nature of central–local government relations, the numbers of councils and a political imperative for newly devolved administrations to be seen to pursue ‘home-grown’ solutions limited policy learning between different parts of the United Kingdom (UK) and in the case of Wales fuelled determined policy avoidance by policy makers.

Is the grass always greener? Making sense of convergence and divergence in regeneration policies in England and Scotland

“…(, 200) who detail four main reasons why policies may converge: Concurrent pressure : when policies converge because nations or states facing similar economic, social and technological challenges arrive independently at similar solutions. Direct coercion : when a policy is imposed on one country or state by a higher authority. Indirect coercion : when functional interdependence creates spill overs that lead to policy convergence. Policy learning : when nations or states adopt lessons from elsewhere. In terms of drivers for policy divergence, Nutley et al . () suggest the following factors are most significant: Institutional, demographic and cultural differences that influence the perceptions of problems and potential approaches to counter the problems. Political pressures, when nationalist governments need ‘to be seen’ to pursue different approaches to the Westminster model (distinctiveness). Growth in confidence from the devolved administrations post devolution means they are more prepared to follow divergent policy approaches. Our research explores direct and indirect variables which impact upon the shifting spectrum of policy convergence and divergence in the policy field of Scottish and English regeneration policy. The empirical data for this analysis come from a series of semi‐structured interviews with experienced and knowledgeable regeneration practitioners from both sides of the border.…”

“…In support of this thesis, Nutley et al . (, 199) report that in England:

performance regimes for local authorities under the Labour government were imposed ‘top down’ by the Government and the Audit Commission. Whilst conversely in (Wales and) Scotland although similar performance regimes were enacted they were developed through consensual processes in which local government representatives played a prominent role.

However, there is robust critique within the academic community in Scotland, challenging the holistic rhetoric of Scottish regeneration policy.…”

Evidence translation: an exploration of policy makers’ use of evidence

“…Some authors have focused on the barriers and facilitators to realising the ideal of basing policy on the best available evidence. These include the blurring of boundaries between the evidence and policy communities in a 'post-ideological' policy context (Newman, 2011); the role of special advisors in shaping policy agendas and the evidence-base (Gains and Stoker, 2011); and how a preference for 'home grown' solutions over overseas imports is contingent on the level of government decision-making (Nutley et al, 2012). Hulme and Hulme (2012) have rightly suggested that the EBPM and policy transfer/translation literatures are concerned with similar themes, but have largely emerged separately.…”

New development: All change? Performance assessment regimes in UK local government

“…These debates have often, however, been rather abstract. There has been surprisingly little effort to test them empirically by analysing and learning from the contrasting approaches to public service reform and performance assessment which have been seen within the UK -across different sectors, between countries, and over time (Nutley et al 2012). …”