Public Inquiries and Policy Design

Public inquiries are important policy design tools, but their functions are not well understood. This Element addresses this gap by presenting a theoretical discussion and practical insights to explain how inquiries perform policy design roles and can be classified as procedural policy tools. It focuses on four inquiry functions – catalytic, learning, processual, and legitimation – and addresses the challenge of designing inquiries that have the policy-facing capacities required to make them effective. Plurality is a key variable influencing effectiveness, and the Element combines conceptual and practical insights to speak to academic and practice-oriented audiences.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 70 pages
Publication date: 23 May 2024
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Public inquiries have the potential to play a significant role in policy design, but the policy design literature has largely overlooked their potential. This Element addresses this gap by presenting a theoretical discussion and empirical illustrations to explain how inquiries can act as policy design tools and be classified as procedural policy tools. It focuses on four inquiry functions: catalytic, learning, processual, and legitimation. Additionally, it addresses the challenge of designing inquiries that have the policy-facing capacities required to make them effective. Plurality is introduced as a key variable influencing effectiveness, demonstrating its relevance to internal inquiry operations, the external inquiry environment, and policy tool selection. This Element combines conceptual and practical insights to speak to academic and practice-oriented audiences.

Weight: 118g
Dimension: 151 x 229 x 7 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009286893