IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/ratsoc/v15y2003i1p64-84.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Is Implementation Distinct from Political Bargaining?

Author

Listed:
  • René Torenvlied

    (Department of Sociology, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands R.Torenvlied@fss.uu.nl)

  • Robert Thomson

    (Department of Public Administration, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9555, 2300 RB, Leiden, The Netherlands thomson@fsw.leidenuviv.nl)

Abstract

Two approaches to research on policy implementation are compared in this article. In the first approach, corresponding with the multi-stage view, implementation is understood as a sub-process requiring specific tools of analysis such as principal-agent theory. In the other approach, which we label the political bargaining view, implementation is seen as an integral part of the policy debate that occurs when political decisions are taken. Using data on the implementation of decisions taken in three Dutch local authorities, we show how the different views can be tested using models. We compare the predictions of agency performances made by bargaining models with those made by implementation models. The results show that the models of political bargaining produce significantly less accurate predictions of agency performances than the implementation models, suggesting that implementation is best understood as a distinct stage of the policy process.

Suggested Citation

  • René Torenvlied & Robert Thomson, 2003. "Is Implementation Distinct from Political Bargaining?," Rationality and Society, , vol. 15(1), pages 64-84, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ratsoc:v:15:y:2003:i:1:p:64-84
    DOI: 10.1177/1043463103015001071
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1043463103015001071
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/1043463103015001071?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Robert T. Nakamura, 1987. "The Textbook Policy Process And Implementation Research," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 7(1), pages 142-154, September.
    2. Maurice Rojer, 1999. "Collective Decision-Making Models Applied To Labor Negotiations In The Netherlands: A Comparison Between An Exchange Model And A Conflict Model," Rationality and Society, , vol. 11(2), pages 207-235, May.
    3. René Torenvlied, 1996. "Political Control Of Implementation Agencies," Rationality and Society, , vol. 8(1), pages 25-56, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Martin, Paul V., 2018. "Managing the risks of ecosystem services markets," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 29(PB), pages 404-410.
    2. Ingold, Karin, 2017. "How to create and preserve social capital in climate adaptation policies: A network approach," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 414-424.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ayoki, Milton, 2005. "Trade, informality and the policy process in Uganda," MPRA Paper 101790, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 18 Dec 2009.
    2. Jelmer Schalk & René Torenvlied & Jeroen Weesie & Frans Stokman, 2007. "The Power of the Presidency in EU Council Decision-making," European Union Politics, , vol. 8(2), pages 229-250, June.
    3. Wolniewicz-Slomka, Klaudia, 2022. "Projektowanie i implementacja polityki publicznej - przegląd podejść teoretycznych," Studia z Polityki Publicznej / Public Policy Studies, Warsaw School of Economics, vol. 9(3), pages 1-24, November.
    4. Kourtit Karima & Nijkamp Peter & Scholten Henk, 2023. "Planning for Climate–Benign Cities – Design of a Mind Map for Smart Energy Transition," Economic Themes, Sciendo, vol. 61(1), pages 41-61, March.
    5. Marjolein Achterkamp, 2002. "Challenge Versus Exchange in Collective Decision Making: A Comparison of Two Simulation Models Based on Simulated Data," Computational and Mathematical Organization Theory, Springer, vol. 8(3), pages 171-196, October.
    6. van Aswegen, Mariske & Retief, Francois Pieter, 2020. "The role of innovation and knowledge networks as a policy mechanism towards more resilient peripheral regions," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    7. Sitko, Nicholas j. & Babu, Suresh & Hoffman, Barak, 2017. "Practitioner’S Guidebook And Toolkit For Agricultural Policy Reform: The P.M.C.A. Approach To Strategic Policy Engagement," Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security Policy Research Papers 259556, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics, Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security (FSP).
    8. Sahide, Muhammad Alif K. & Fisher, Micah R. & Erbaugh, J.T. & Intarini, Dian & Dharmiasih, Wiwik & Makmur, Muliadi & Faturachmat, Fatwa & Verheijen, Bart & Maryudi, Ahmad, 2020. "The boom of social forestry policy and the bust of social forests in Indonesia: Developing and applying an access-exclusion framework to assess policy outcomes," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    9. Javier Arregui & Frans Stokman & Robert Thomson, 2004. "Bargaining in the European Union and Shifts in Actors’ Policy Positions," European Union Politics, , vol. 5(1), pages 47-72, March.
    10. Anthony McCosker & Anne Matan & Dora Marinova, 2018. "Policies, Politics, and Paradigms: Healthy Planning in Australian Local Government," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-25, March.
    11. Olivia Golden, 1990. "Innovation in public sector human services programs: The implications of innovation by “groping along”," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 9(2), pages 219-248.
    12. Paul J. Castellani, 1992. "Closing institutions in New York state: Implementation and management lessons," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 11(4), pages 593-611.
    13. Erbaugh, James & Bierbaum, Rosina & Castilleja, Guillermo & da Fonseca, Gustavo A.B. & Hansen, Steffen Cole Brandstrup, 2019. "Toward sustainable agriculture in the tropics," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 158-162.
    14. Natasja Reslow, 2015. "EU “Mobility” Partnerships: An Initial Assessment of Implementation Dynamics," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 3(2), pages 117-128.
    15. Suresh Chandra Babu, 2013. "Policy Process and Food Price Crisis: a Framework for Analysis and Lessons from Country Studies," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2013-070, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    16. T E van der Lei & W A H Thissen, 2009. "Quantitative problem structuring methods for multi-actor problems: an analysis of reported applications," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 60(9), pages 1198-1206, September.
    17. Lars Carlsson, 1996. "Nonhierarchical Implementation Analysis," Journal of Theoretical Politics, , vol. 8(4), pages 527-546, October.
    18. Villamor, Grace B., 2006. "The rise of protected area policy in the Philippine forest policy: An analysis from the perspective of Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF)," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 9(2), pages 162-178, November.
    19. René Torenvlied & Gina Velner, 1998. "Informal Networks and Resistance to Organizational Change: The Introduction of Quality Standards in a Transport Company," Computational and Mathematical Organization Theory, Springer, vol. 4(2), pages 165-188, June.
    20. Bruce Bueno de Mesquita, 2004. "Decision-Making Models, Rigor and New Puzzles," European Union Politics, , vol. 5(1), pages 125-138, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:sae:ratsoc:v:15:y:2003:i:1:p:64-84. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.