Twelve Policy analysis and political party think tanks
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Arco Timmermans
Abstract
Industrial relations in the Netherlands are characterized by the rather harmonious collaboration of employers’ organizations, trade unions and the government. Various institutions have evolved that serve as a vehicle for social dialogue including the Social Economic Council, the Labour Foundation and – until recently – the Council for Work and Income. One of the specific characteristics of the Dutch ‘poldermodel’ is that these institutions not only play an important role in the traditional issues of industrial relations like negotiations on wages and labour conditions, but also in much wider issues including global competition, housing policies and social policies. In doing so, these institutions go beyond their traditional role of producing consensus on themes related to industrial relations, they become producers of negotiated policy analysis. Finally attention is paid to the most recent trends in the Dutch poldermodel, particularly the fact the influence of negotiated knowledge has lost some of its power. Is this temporary, or should we expect institutions that are built on unions and employer organizations to erode – just as these organizations do?
Abstract
Industrial relations in the Netherlands are characterized by the rather harmonious collaboration of employers’ organizations, trade unions and the government. Various institutions have evolved that serve as a vehicle for social dialogue including the Social Economic Council, the Labour Foundation and – until recently – the Council for Work and Income. One of the specific characteristics of the Dutch ‘poldermodel’ is that these institutions not only play an important role in the traditional issues of industrial relations like negotiations on wages and labour conditions, but also in much wider issues including global competition, housing policies and social policies. In doing so, these institutions go beyond their traditional role of producing consensus on themes related to industrial relations, they become producers of negotiated policy analysis. Finally attention is paid to the most recent trends in the Dutch poldermodel, particularly the fact the influence of negotiated knowledge has lost some of its power. Is this temporary, or should we expect institutions that are built on unions and employer organizations to erode – just as these organizations do?
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
