Different Seeds in the Same Plot? Competing Models of Capitalism and the Incomplete Contracts of Partnership Design

Abstract

This article explains the differing nature of UK government and European Commission approaches to partnership, drawing on the ‘competing models of capitalism’ debate. Comparative studies have typically considered the impact of the same institutional arrangements across different territories – the ‘study of identical seeds sown in different plots’(Putnam 1993, p. 7). However, this article is concerned with the study of different seeds sown in the same small plot: an area within the city of Sheffield. The different approaches to partnership enshrined in UK and EU regeneration programme documents structure different prospective outcomes. However, regeneration programme requirements must be understood as ‘incomplete contracts’ and as such, policy implementers play a key role in shaping policy outcomes.