Policy implementation in an age of governance

Abstract

Four main findings stand out in this state-of-the-art analysis of policy implementation research. First, after a sudden rise in research interest and publications on this topic since the early 1970s up to the mid-late 1980s, scholarly interest stagnated and declined until the late 1990s and beginning of the new century. Then research publications started to rebound to an unprecedented new high level. Second, during these five decades or so, research on this topic has made great progress towards a ‘third generation’ research paradigm. The latter implies the application of more rigorous scientific research designs and methodologies. Third, advances towards a more parsimonious theory of policy implementation that motivated the call for a third-generation research design has been less than one could hope for. Finally, a major shift in regional focus and origin of implementation research away from North America towards Europe and other regions has taken place especially during the last decade.