Linking throughput and output legitimacy in Swiss forest policy implementation
Lieberherr, E; Thomann, E
Date: 24 March 2020
Journal
Policy Sciences
Publisher
Springer Verlag
Publisher DOI
Abstract
Policy scholars typically assume that implementing actors follow democratically decided rules
in linear, predictable ways. However, this assumption does not factor in the operational
challenges and multiple accountability relations facing policy implementers in contemporary,
hybrid policy implementation settings. Shifting the focus ...
Policy scholars typically assume that implementing actors follow democratically decided rules
in linear, predictable ways. However, this assumption does not factor in the operational
challenges and multiple accountability relations facing policy implementers in contemporary,
hybrid policy implementation settings. Shifting the focus to throughput (governance process)
and output legitimacy (results), this paper explores how throughput dimensions affect the
implementation of policy outputs. We study a hybrid policy – the Swiss Forest Policy 2020 –
in a federalist, multi-level implementation setting. We find that accountability dilemmas have
negative consequences for output implementation, particularly when professionalism clashes
with rules. Accountability dilemmas are exacerbated by policy incoherence and interact with
policy ambiguity. High issue salience can compensate for the negative effects of these factors.
The role of implementing organizations in democratic countries goes beyond rule following:
accountability relations and other throughput dimensions crucially affect output legitimacy.
Social and Political Sciences, Philosophy, and Anthropology
Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
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