Existing Policy Regime Research Articles

The future of AI politics, policy, and business

AbstractOur aim with this special issue on the future of artificial intelligence (AI) politics, policy, and business is to give space to considering how the balalnce between risk and reward from AI technologies is and perhaps should be pursued by the public and private sectors. Ultimately, private firms and regulators will need to work collaboratively, given the complex networks of actors involved in AI development and deployment and the potential for the technology to alter existing policy regimes. We begin the introduction of this special issue of Business & Politics with a discussion of the growth in AI technology use and discussions of appropriate governance, followed by a consideration of how AI-related politics, policy, and business intersect. We then summarize the contributions of the authors in this issue and conclude with thoughts about how political science, public administration, and public policy scholars have much to offer, as well as much to study, the establishment of effective AI governance.

How refugees work together: the politics of solidarity and ‘invisible’ collective action during COVID-19

ABSTRACT Recent scholarship on refugee assistance has begun shifting the focus from traditional humanitarian interventions to alternative forms of refugee response, undertaken through more local, informal networks. These forms of humanitarian assistance and solidarity can transcend national refugee politics, and function as an alternative form of political engagement with the issue of refugee protection. Much of this emerging literature focuses on how host communities, diaspora networks, and activist groups support refugees. However, we know very little about how solidarities are generated between different refugee groups in the same host state, which has important implications for understanding the ways in which different refugee groups organise and seek to secure their own welfare in shared displacement. This study draws on evidence from India during the COVID-19 pandemic to analyze how such intergroup cooperation in exile develops. I find, first, that refugees navigate their vulnerabilities through informal, interpersonal forms of care and solidarity, which bolsters identification with shared challenges and goals. Second, such solidarities can generate collective action that helps refugees carve out certain spaces of inclusion in a larger context of structural exclusion. Third, the network structure of these solidarities is shaped by existing policy regimes and social relationships in key ways.

Intellectual entrepreneurs and U.S. International monetary policy change in the early 1970s

ABSTRACT This study analyzes U.S. international monetary policy change in the early 1970s, with a focus on the role of intellectual entrepreneurs. Drawing on the literature regarding neoliberalism, policy entrepreneurs, and punctuated equilibrium, the author claims that laissez-faire economists—most notably, Milton Friedman and George Shultz—effectively exploited an external shock in persuading key policy audiences and undermining the existing policy regime. Their entrepreneurship, as well as economic ideas, facilitated the turn to a monetary system based on market-determined exchange rates. As such, this research bridges different aspects of neoliberalism: intellectual and policy aspects. Also, it contributes to the scholarship on policy entrepreneurs by suggesting a new strategy: policy neglect. Policy entrepreneurs may refrain from fully implementing existing rules, which, in punctuated equilibrium, can lead to non-compliance on a large scale, instigating a radical policy shift. Further, this research responds to a recent call to examine contextual factors that affect policy entrepreneurship. The policy domain of foreign economic affairs poses distinct challenges and opportunities for policy entrepreneurs, with special implications for policy venue shopping and non-traditional policy audiences.

Rural Landscapes—Challenges and Solutions to Landscape Governance

Rural landscape dynamics are challenging existing policy regimes for a number of reasons and new approaches to landscape governance are needed [...]

Flood Risk and Resilience in the Netherlands: In Search of an Adaptive Governance Approach

In the Netherlands, dealing with the risk of flooding in the face of the current climate change requires a governance approach that is less based upon the long-standing tradition of prevention and protection, and more oriented toward ideas of resilience and adaptivity. Such an approach is assumed to be more resilient compared to static approaches and better equipped to deal with the indeterminate character of a problem like flood risk. This article presents the Dutch attempt to introduce a more polycentric and adaptive governance approach in flood management, called multilayered safety (MLS). We studied this approach via interviews and an extensive document study, and analyzed the institutions governing the issue using the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework of Elinor Ostrom. For years, the issue was in the hands of a small network of actors, mainly occupied by water experts and governed by a strong lead organization and permanent bodies. While introducing a new, more adaptive policy concept the government encountered both resistance and inability within the existing policy regime. This article shows that the issue of flood safety was successfully ‘tamed’ for decades. Adopting a more adaptive and polycentric approach necessitates ‘untaming’ the issue of flood safety.

Redistribution and risk sharing in Italy: learning from the past

ABSTRACTRedistribution and risk sharing in Italy: learning from the past. Regional Studies. This paper investigates the role of public policies in Italy by assessing both the redistribution and the risk-sharing functions of interregional net fiscal flows in the long run. Its comparative approach allows one to contrast results obtained for two periods characterized by diverse regional policy and dynamics of regional convergence. Although based on a specific example, the evidence supports more general conclusions: when assessing the regional redistributive and risk-sharing power of national fiscal policies, many different factors related to the existing policy regime should be accounted for, particularly the distribution of government spending between current expenditure and public investment.

Redistribution and Risk Sharing in Italy: Learning from the Past

This paper investigates the role of public policies in Italy by assessing both the redistribution and risk sharing functions of interregional Net Fiscal Flows over a long time horizon. Its main novelty relies on the comparative approach that allows to contrast results obtained for two periods characterized by relevant diversity about design of regional policy and dynamics of regional convergence. Moving from 1951–65 to 1983–92, interregional redistribution increases from 10%–18% to 19%–30%, with a clear rise in the share of current to total expenditure. Concerning risk sharing, the role of fiscal policy in smoothing out idiosyncratic risks is weak in 1951–65 but significant in 1983–92. Although based on a specific case, we believe that the evidence provided in this paper allows to draw more general conclusions: when assessing the regional redistributive and risk sharing power of national fiscal policies, one should carefully take into account many different factors related to the existing policy regime, the main being the composition of government spending between current expenditure and public investment.

Do state traditions matter? Comparing deliberative governance initiatives for climate change adaptation in Dutch corporatism and British pluralism

In the emerging field of climate adaptation, deliberative governance initiatives are proposed to yield better adaptation strategies. However, introducing these network-centred deliberations between public and private players may contrast with institutionalized traditions of interest intermediation between state and society. This paper shows how these so-called state traditions affect the processes and outcomes of newly set up deliberative governance initiatives. Because of the similarities in geographical characteristics and the differences in state tradition we conducted a qualitative case study comparison of Dutch and British water management. Our comparison is two-fold. First, we compare deliberative governance initiatives in the different state traditions of the Netherlands and UK. Second, we compare the newly set up deliberative governance initiative to an existing policy regime mainstreaming climate adaptation in a similar state tradition, in our case the Netherlands. We find that: (1) deliberative governance initiatives in the corporatist state tradition of the Netherlands yields learning but shows apathy among politically elected decision-makers compared to deliberative governance initiatives in the pluralist state tradition of the UK where clearly defined rules and responsibilities yields negotiation and action; and (2) a typical corporatist policy regime mainstreaming climate adaption in a corporatist state tradition yields effective and legitimate policy formation but lacks learning.

Policy by Doing: Formulation and Adoption of Policy through Government Leadership

Do government choices, rather than legislative policies (i.e., mandatory regulations or incentives), influence the choices private actors make? In this article we develop a concept of “policy by doing,” which examines the power of government actions as hortatory tools to encourage other community members to act. “Policy by doing” can be an attempt to shape outcomes by providing symbolic leadership, reducing uncertainty, creating market, and telegraphing actions. Empirical analysis of privately held green buildings in 591 U.S. cities from 2004 to 2010 suggests that when governments increase their own commitment to green building for their facilities; private actors will be more likely to build green. We find that the actions of local governments, rather than those of state or federal, exert the strongest substantive influence on private decision making. Our findings contribute to understanding how governments can augment existing policy regimes by modeling the behavior they hope to inspire in other actors.

Sustainable Development Compromise[d] in the Planning of Metro Vancouver’s Agricultural Lands—the Jackson Farm Case

This research provides analysis of the case of the Jackson Farm development application, embedded within the particular dynamics of the municipal, regional, and provincial sustainability land use policy culture of the Metro Vancouver region, in Canada. Within a culture of appreciation of the increasing need for sustainability in land use policy, including the protection of agricultural lands at the provincial level through the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), to urban intensification and protection of the green zone at the regional scale, lies a political conflict that comes into focus in individual land use decisions, within municipalities struggling for autonomy. This case is neither driven strictly by “the politics of the highest bidder” nor by policy failure; the case of the Jackson Farm is instead a case of the challenges of implementing inter-governmental coordination and collaborative governance in a context of both significant sustainability policy and urban growth. The process can be seen to follow an ecological modernization agenda, seeking “win–win” alternatives rather than recognizing that typical compromises, over time, may tip the direction of development away from sustainability policy goals. Understanding the twists, turns, and eventual compromise reached in the case of the Jackson Farm brings to light the implications of the shift in the regional planning culture which may necessitate a less flexible, more structured prioritization of competing goals within plans and policies in order to meet sustainability goals. We highlight this, and present an alternative implementation process within the existing policy regime with potential to aid the specific goal of agricultural land protection.

The Green Deal and the Energy Company Obligation

Current UK energy efficiency policy is very fluid, with a number of new policies due to be introduced in 2012 and 2013, including the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation. These mark a substantial change from the existing policy regime in a number of ways, notably the explicit aim of supporting higher cost energy efficiency technologies in housing and an attempt to engage new sources of private sector finance. This paper provides a critical analysis of the proposed policy changes both in terms of the institutional changes and the implications of a new finance mechanism for energy efficiency policy, as well as the overall impact on reduction of greenhouse gasses, in particular through the installation of different types of retrofitted insulation.

Exploring Organic Cherry Investment Opportunities for Greek Farmers

Organic farming has grown rapidly in the European Union (EU) due to a rising demand for high-quality food, increased environmental concerns and market developments that led to the implementation of an organic policy and the creation of a positive institutional framework. Nevertheless, the production of organic fruit, including cherries, is still limited within the EU, despite high demand. Farmers generally adopt organic farming systems only if the support provided by the existing policy regime outweighs the increased risk and uncertainty. This study explores the effectiveness of current policy measures for the production of organic cherries in Greece using a real options methodology. The results reveal that the economic incentives provided by the existing policy regime contribute to profitability and compensate for the risk and uncertainty that organic cherry farmers face, although further institutional support is still needed.

The CAP and EU Enlargement: A Missed Opportunity La PAC et l’élargissement de l’Union européenne : une opportunité manquée Die GAP und die EU‐Erweiterung: Eine verpasste Gelegenheit

SummaryThe CAP and EU Enlargement: A Missed OpportunityAccession of Central and Eastern European countries failed to prompt a widespread review of agricultural and rural policy within the European Union. Despite the unprecedented scale and scope of the accession, the existing policy regime was preserved. Rather than fostering European integration through mutual adaptation, a process of emulation ensured that it was the task of acceding countries to adjust to the EU. Under the Common Agricultural Policy, the centrality of Pillar I and its main instrument, direct payments, remain intact. Even under Pillar II, farm‐centric measures dominate. This fosters a poor match between the CAP and the real rural development needs of the New Member States. Mitigation of the structural problems confronting rural areas in CEE is critical to meeting the challenge of effective EU integration. Insufficient reform prior to accession is likely to entrench, at least in the short to medium term, a farm‐centric CAP in CEE, delivering minimal benefits to those most in need, and hindering wider adjustment of EU agricultural and rural policy. That these issues have not been adequately addressed reflects a failure of the EU to adjust its outlook from being exclusively West European to pan‐European.

Carbon capture and storage policy in the United States: A new coalition endeavors to change existing policy

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is considered by some to be a promising technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and advocates are seeking policies to facilitate its deployment. Unlike many countries, which approach the development of policies for geologic storage (GS) of carbon dioxide (CO 2) with nearly a blank slate, the U.S. already has a mature policy regime devoted to the injection of CO 2 into deep geologic formations. However, the existing governance of CO 2 injection is designed to manage enhanced oil recovery (EOR), and policy changes would be needed to manage the risks and benefits of CO 2 injection for the purpose of avoiding GHG emissions. We review GS policy developments at both the U.S. federal and state levels, including original research on state GS policy development. By applying advocacy coalition framework theory, we identify two competing coalitions defined by their beliefs about the primary purpose of CO 2 injection: energy supply or greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions. The established energy coalition is the beneficiary of the current policy regime. Their vision of GS policy is protective: to minimize harm to fossil energy industries if climate policy were to be enacted. In contrast, the newly formed climate coalition seeks to change existing GS policy to support their proactive vision: to maximize GHG reductions using CCS when climate policy is enacted. We explore where and at what scale legislation emerges and examine which institutions gain prominence as drivers of policy change. Through a detailed textual analysis of the content of state GS legislation, we find that the energy coalition has had greater success than the climate coalition in shaping state laws to align with its policy preferences. It has enshrined its view of the purpose of CO 2 injection in state legislation, delegated authority for GS to state agencies aligned with the existing policy regime, and protected the EOR status quo, while creating new opportunities for EOR operators to profit from the storage of CO 2 The climate coalition's objective of proactively putting GS policy in place has been furthered, and important progress has been made on commonly held concerns, such as the resolution of property rights issues, but the net result is policy change that does not significantly revise the existing policy regime.

Poverty, sustainability and human wellbeing: A social wellbeing approach to the global fisheries crisis

The purpose of this paper is to explore the extent to which a social wellbeing approach can offer a useful way of addressing the policy challenge of reconciling poverty and environmental objectives for development policy makers. In order to provide detail from engagement with a specific policy challenge it takes as its illustrative example the global fisheries crisis. This crisis portends not only an environmental disaster but also a catastrophe for human development and for the millions of people directly dependent upon fish resources for their livelihoods and food security. The paper presents the argument for framing the policy problem using a social conception of human wellbeing, suggesting that this approach provides insights which have the potential to improve fisheries policy and governance. By broadening the scope of analysis to consider values, aspirations and motivations and by focusing on the wide range of social relationships that are integral to people achieving their wellbeing, it provides a basis for better understanding the competing interests in fisheries which generate conflict and which often undermine existing policy regimes.

Paths and Forks or Chutes and Ladders?: Negative Feedbacks and Policy Regime Change

AbstractThe literature on path dependence has emphasized positive feedback effects that make it difficult to shift from a policy regime once it is in place. This article argues that policy regimes may also have strong negative feedback effects that undermine the political, fiscal or social sustainability of an existing policy regime. The prospects for a shift in policy regime depend largely on the balance between positive and negative feedback effects; the availability of incremental reform options that can be used to patch the status quo; and the availability of politically and fiscally attractive regime transition options. The paper argues that differential survival rates of different public pension regimes in western industrial countries can be understood by the interaction of these three factors.

Exogenous Shocks in Subsystem Adjustment and Policy Change: The Credit Crunch and Canadian Banking Regulation

ABSTRACTThis paper explores the impact of internationalization on the financial services policy subsystem in Canada. It uses subsystem adjustment as a concept to bring some analytical clarity to how exogenous factors like globalisation and international crises may impact existing policy regimes. Based on examination of globalisation-induced banking deregulation (1987–1991) and the current crisis of securitized banking, the paper argues that the strength of this approach is that it integrates endogenous effects of the existing subsystem in explaining policy changes in response to what are normally treated as exogenous shocks. Careful effort needs to be made to differentiate the processes of external systemic perturbations from subsystem spillovers as these two processes of adjustment and policy change can lead to different policymaking dynamics over the long term.

The Impact of a Gasoline Tax on Auto Exhaust Emissions

The EPA implements its policy of exhaust emission control by setting standards specified in terms of grams of pollutants per mile traveled. As a result, the tax must first restrain the vehicle miles traveled (VMT) if it is to have an impact on emission at all. EPA's choice of miles traveled as the medium through which its policy of pollution control must run is unfortunate, because travel is an activity that people resist giving up. This is reflected in a low long-run price elasticity of travel demand. Consequently, it takes substantial increases in the gasoline tax to make an impact on long-run travel demand. Simulation results show that under an alternative policy option, where EPA's standards are specified in terms of grams of pollutant per gallon of fuel burned, the same long-run reduction in exhaust emissions achievable today can be achieved (at an even higher level of confidence) with less than one-tenth of the increase in gasoline price required under the existing policy regime.