This article uses a systematic review of the main literature in the field to shed light on different operationalizations of the main classifications of policy instruments. Although the literature offers a large number of instrument taxonomies, many of them act as theoretical guidelines rather than operational concepts that can help to disentangle the different features of governing actions. This article provides a review of the most frequently used policy instrument typologies and, through a meta-analysis, it analyses how instrument typologies have been differentially adopted to explain real-world phenomena. The results are a high degree of heterogeneity in citation frequency, the polyhedral nature of the concept of policy instruments, a divide between typologies focused on governmental resources and those focused on drivers of expected behaviour, and ‘labellism’. Thus, what emerges is the urgency of a process of convergence towards a common framework.
Policy instruments at work: A meta-analysis of their applications / Acciai C.; Capano G.. - In: PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION. - ISSN 0033-3298. - STAMPA. - 99:1(2021), pp. 118-136. [10.1111/padm.12673]
Policy instruments at work: A meta-analysis of their applications
Capano G.
2021
Abstract
This article uses a systematic review of the main literature in the field to shed light on different operationalizations of the main classifications of policy instruments. Although the literature offers a large number of instrument taxonomies, many of them act as theoretical guidelines rather than operational concepts that can help to disentangle the different features of governing actions. This article provides a review of the most frequently used policy instrument typologies and, through a meta-analysis, it analyses how instrument typologies have been differentially adopted to explain real-world phenomena. The results are a high degree of heterogeneity in citation frequency, the polyhedral nature of the concept of policy instruments, a divide between typologies focused on governmental resources and those focused on drivers of expected behaviour, and ‘labellism’. Thus, what emerges is the urgency of a process of convergence towards a common framework.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.