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Think tanks and strategic policy-making: the contribution of think tanks to policy advisory systems

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  • Bert Fraussen

    (Australian National University)

  • Darren Halpin

    (Australian National University)

Abstract

Think tanks have proliferated in most Western democracies over the past three decades and are often considered to be increasingly important actors in public policy. Still, their precise contribution to public policy remains contested. This paper takes the existing literature in a new direction by focusing on the capacity of think tanks to contribute to strategic policy-making and assessing their particular role within policy advisory systems. We propose that strategic policy-making capacity requires three critical features: high levels of research capacity, substantial organizational autonomy and a long-term policy horizon. Subsequently, we assess the potential of think tanks to play this particular role in policy-making, using empirical evidence from structured interviews with a set of prominent Australian think tanks.

Suggested Citation

  • Bert Fraussen & Darren Halpin, 2017. "Think tanks and strategic policy-making: the contribution of think tanks to policy advisory systems," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 50(1), pages 105-124, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:policy:v:50:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1007_s11077-016-9246-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s11077-016-9246-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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