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When Less Means More: Policy Accumulation, Administrative Capacities, and Policy Performance

Author

Listed:
  • Fernández-i-Marín Xavier

    (Department of Law, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain)

  • Hinterleitner Markus

    (Public Administration, Universite de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland)

  • Knill Christoph

    (Political Science, 9183 LMU Munich , Munich, Germany)

  • Steinebach Yves

    (Political Science, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway)

Abstract

Democratic governments have consistently introduced new policies to address various societal, economic, and environmental issues. However, this ongoing expansion of policy measures risks overburdening the public administrations responsible for their execution. To explore this challenge, we examine how the relationship between the size of sectoral policy portfolios and available implementation capacities impacts the effectiveness of sectoral policies. Our analysis of environmental policies across OECD countries reveals a growing disparity between the number of policies requiring implementation and the resources available to carry them out, which in turn negatively affects policy performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Fernández-i-Marín Xavier & Hinterleitner Markus & Knill Christoph & Steinebach Yves, 2025. "When Less Means More: Policy Accumulation, Administrative Capacities, and Policy Performance," The Economists' Voice, De Gruyter, vol. 22(1), pages 123-133.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:evoice:v:22:y:2025:i:1:p:123-133:n:1008
    DOI: 10.1515/ev-2025-0003
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    policy accumulation; bureeaucratic overload; policy performance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H11 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Structure and Scope of Government

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