Eleven The field of state expertise
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Mathieu Hauchecorne
Abstract
This chapter focuses on the role of state expertise and public commissions, which are dominated by senior civil servants and state-close policy experts, in the elaboration of policy analysis-based reform proposals. Two kinds of organisations are taken into account: permanent commissions or institutes and ad hoc commissions created for the purpose of a specific reform in a particular context. Until the 1990s, the Commissariat General au Plan was the main permanent commission that produced policy analysis and reform proposals aimed at long-term goals. Over the last 20 years, new, more specialized councils or commissions have been created in order to promote structural analysis and change in different policy fields. This is especially the case for social policies. Since the late 1990s, governments have created new institutions charged with deliberating assessments of and possible reform orientations for pensions, healthcare, family policy and care for example. The aim of this chapter is to analyze this shift in governance structure within the French welfare system and the new role played by these conseils.
Abstract
This chapter focuses on the role of state expertise and public commissions, which are dominated by senior civil servants and state-close policy experts, in the elaboration of policy analysis-based reform proposals. Two kinds of organisations are taken into account: permanent commissions or institutes and ad hoc commissions created for the purpose of a specific reform in a particular context. Until the 1990s, the Commissariat General au Plan was the main permanent commission that produced policy analysis and reform proposals aimed at long-term goals. Over the last 20 years, new, more specialized councils or commissions have been created in order to promote structural analysis and change in different policy fields. This is especially the case for social policies. Since the late 1990s, governments have created new institutions charged with deliberating assessments of and possible reform orientations for pensions, healthcare, family policy and care for example. The aim of this chapter is to analyze this shift in governance structure within the French welfare system and the new role played by these conseils.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- Notes on contributors vii
- Editors’ introduction to the series xiii
- Policy analysis in France: introduction 1
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The styles and methods of public policy analysis
- On the path to public policy analysis: an ‘administrative science’ between reform and academy 31
- The emergence of modern policy analysis in France 47
- Recent developments within French policy studies 63
- Methods of French policy studies 79
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Policy analysis by governments
- Civil servants and policy analysis in central government 101
- Policy analysis in French local government 119
- Beyond weakness: policy analysis in the French parliament 137
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Committees, public inquiries, and consultants
- Public inquiries, committees 157
- Management consultants as policy actors 175
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Parties, interest groups, research institutes and think tanks
- The field of state expertise 191
- Political parties and think tanks: policy analysis oriented toward office-seeking 209
- Economic interest groups and policy analysis in France 225
- NGOs, civil society and policy analysis: from mutual disinterest to reciprocal investment 243
- Trade union expertise in public policy 261
-
Academic policy analysis
- Economics and policy analysis: ‘from state to market’? 279
- The academic world of French policy studies: training, teaching and researching 295
- Public policy analysis in France: from public action to political power 313
- Index 333
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- Notes on contributors vii
- Editors’ introduction to the series xiii
- Policy analysis in France: introduction 1
-
The styles and methods of public policy analysis
- On the path to public policy analysis: an ‘administrative science’ between reform and academy 31
- The emergence of modern policy analysis in France 47
- Recent developments within French policy studies 63
- Methods of French policy studies 79
-
Policy analysis by governments
- Civil servants and policy analysis in central government 101
- Policy analysis in French local government 119
- Beyond weakness: policy analysis in the French parliament 137
-
Committees, public inquiries, and consultants
- Public inquiries, committees 157
- Management consultants as policy actors 175
-
Parties, interest groups, research institutes and think tanks
- The field of state expertise 191
- Political parties and think tanks: policy analysis oriented toward office-seeking 209
- Economic interest groups and policy analysis in France 225
- NGOs, civil society and policy analysis: from mutual disinterest to reciprocal investment 243
- Trade union expertise in public policy 261
-
Academic policy analysis
- Economics and policy analysis: ‘from state to market’? 279
- The academic world of French policy studies: training, teaching and researching 295
- Public policy analysis in France: from public action to political power 313
- Index 333
