Theorising policy advisory system management: approaches and practice

Reut Marciano, Jonathan Craft*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

This article develops the concept of policy advisory system (PAS) management in recognition of the need to better theorise and empirically study how governments approach the complex systems of advice around them. In our analysis, we go beyond the conceptualisation of degrees of government's control over advisory sources. We use the dimensions of government agency and discretion and argue that PAS management falls into four forms: authoritative, dependent, laissez-faire, or absent. Using evidence from Australia, Canada, Britain, and New Zealand, we explore how governments operationalise these approaches through a range of choices and practices. The analysis points to the need to recognise that attempts to manage these systems occur both proactively and reactively with clear differences in the broad or narrow scope of management efforts.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)490-511
Number of pages22
JournalJournal of Public Policy
Volume43
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2 Sep 2023
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s), 2023.

Keywords

  • administrative traditions
  • advising government
  • management
  • policy advisory systems

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