Eight Policy analysis and performance audit at the ‘highest level’: looking for evidence and responsiveness
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Peter van der Knaap
Abstract
The Netherlands has developed a relatively extensive and strong system of advisory bodies. A specific phenomenon in the Dutch setting involves the so-called ‘planning bureaus’, a specific form of advisory body that not so much actually plans policies but provides policy-relevant knowledge on developments in society, nature or the economy. In this chapter a reconstruction is made of the origin and development of this system, in order to understand why advisory boards and planning offices evolved as such a powerful factor in the Netherlands and to be able to position the Dutch case in a comparative perspective. Subsequently, attention is paid to the origin and proceedings of four key advisory boards: the Central Planning bureau (CPB), the Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR), the Social and Cultural Planning bureau (SCP) and the Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL).
Abstract
The Netherlands has developed a relatively extensive and strong system of advisory bodies. A specific phenomenon in the Dutch setting involves the so-called ‘planning bureaus’, a specific form of advisory body that not so much actually plans policies but provides policy-relevant knowledge on developments in society, nature or the economy. In this chapter a reconstruction is made of the origin and development of this system, in order to understand why advisory boards and planning offices evolved as such a powerful factor in the Netherlands and to be able to position the Dutch case in a comparative perspective. Subsequently, attention is paid to the origin and proceedings of four key advisory boards: the Central Planning bureau (CPB), the Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR), the Social and Cultural Planning bureau (SCP) and the Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL).
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- List of figures and tables ix
- List of acronyms x
- Notes on contributors xiv
- Editors’ introduction to the series xx
- Preface and acknowledgements xxii
- Policy analysis in the Netherlands: an introduction 1
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Styles and modes of policy analysis
- Policy analysis in practice: reinterpreting the quest for evidence-based policy 17
- Policy analysis in networks: the battle of analysis and the potentials of joint fact-finding 33
- Patterns of science–policy interaction 49
- Interpretive policy analysis in the Netherlands 69
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Policy analysis in government
- Policy analysis and evaluation in national government 89
- Policy analysis at the local government level 107
- Policy analysis and performance audit at the ‘highest level’: looking for evidence and responsiveness 121
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Advisory bodies, consultancy firms, research institutes and think tanks
- Advisory boards and planning bureaus 139
- The Dutch policy research industry 155
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Policy analysis in politics and by interest groups in society
- Policy analysis in the Dutch Parliament 171
- Policy analysis and political party think tanks 187
- Policy analysis by negotiation: trade unions, employers’ organisations and the Social and Economic Council 203
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Policy analysis in the academic world
- Policy analysis as instruction 217
- Contested knowledge in theory-driven policy analysis: setting the Dutch stage 231
- Institutionalisation and performance of policy analysis and evaluation in the Netherlands 247
- Index 255
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- List of figures and tables ix
- List of acronyms x
- Notes on contributors xiv
- Editors’ introduction to the series xx
- Preface and acknowledgements xxii
- Policy analysis in the Netherlands: an introduction 1
-
Styles and modes of policy analysis
- Policy analysis in practice: reinterpreting the quest for evidence-based policy 17
- Policy analysis in networks: the battle of analysis and the potentials of joint fact-finding 33
- Patterns of science–policy interaction 49
- Interpretive policy analysis in the Netherlands 69
-
Policy analysis in government
- Policy analysis and evaluation in national government 89
- Policy analysis at the local government level 107
- Policy analysis and performance audit at the ‘highest level’: looking for evidence and responsiveness 121
-
Advisory bodies, consultancy firms, research institutes and think tanks
- Advisory boards and planning bureaus 139
- The Dutch policy research industry 155
-
Policy analysis in politics and by interest groups in society
- Policy analysis in the Dutch Parliament 171
- Policy analysis and political party think tanks 187
- Policy analysis by negotiation: trade unions, employers’ organisations and the Social and Economic Council 203
-
Policy analysis in the academic world
- Policy analysis as instruction 217
- Contested knowledge in theory-driven policy analysis: setting the Dutch stage 231
- Institutionalisation and performance of policy analysis and evaluation in the Netherlands 247
- Index 255
