Skip to main content

ETHNOS_APP

Home • Search • Journals • List 0

Does Entrepreneurship Work? Understanding What Policy Entrepreneurs Do and Whether It Matters

Bibliographic Data

ID6328429
AuthorsGwen Arnold (0000-0001-6211-6867, BioTracking (United States), corresponding author)
Year2021
Volume49
Issue4
Pages968-991
Publication date2021-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePolicy Studies Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0190-292X • E-ISSN: 1541-0072
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/psj.12388
OpenAlexW3016168615
LanguageEN
Citations received48
References cited61

When a major policy change occurs, policy entrepreneurs—advocates who devote substantial time, energy, and resources to campaigning for a specific policy outcome—are often credited as critical influences. However, there has been a little quantitative, large‐n cross‐sectional study of whether policy entrepreneurship effectuates policy change, how policy entrepreneurs pursue their goals, and whether particular entrepreneur attributes are more or less facilitative to that end. This paper aims to fill that gap by investigating policy entrepreneurship in municipalities across the State of New York, where between 2008 and 2012 hundreds of local jurisdictions passed policies to ban or restrict high‐volume hydraulic fracturing (fracking), often encouraged by anti‐fracking advocates. It demonstrates that policy entrepreneurs have a consequential, positive impact on policy adoption; that their characteristics, strategies, and goals classify into distinct archetypes; and that archetypes vary in their policy impact

Archetype · Business · Entrepreneurship · Political science · Work (physics · demographic modeling and climate adaptation · Engineering · Policy Transfer and Learning · Public Policy and Administration Research · Finance

  • Policy Entrepreneurs, Crises, and Policy Change

    Open Access•Elia Petridou, Evangelia Petridou et al.•Policy Entrepreneurs, Crises, and…•2025

  • A street-level policy entrepreneur's perspective for bridging public policy and school principalship

    Open Access•Maayan Davidovitz, A Addi-Raccah•Management in Education•2026

  • The eye of every storm

    Open Access•Fredrik Von Malmborg•Energy Sustainability and Society•2025

  • Comparing strategies and success of policy entrepreneurs in EU energy and climate policy processes

    Open Access•Fredrik Von Malmborg•Energy Sustainability and Society•2026

  • Information Processing and Changes to Local Governments' Practices Amid Intensifying Environmental Hazards

    Open Access•Rachel M Krause, Le Anh Nguyen Long et al.•Review of Policy Research•2026

  • The Policy Entrepreneur as a Crosscutting Concept in Theories of the Policy Process

    Open Access•Elia Petridou, Jörgen Sparf et al.•European Policy Analysis•2025

  • The strategy of venue creation

    Open Access•Maria Mavrikou, Nikolaos Zahariadis et al.•International Review of Public…•2022

  • Street level bureaucrats, policy entrepreneurship, and discretion in enforcing bans on motorcycle taxis in Lagos, Nigeria

    Open Access•Robert Ackrill, Eghosa Igudia et al.•European Policy Analysis•2023

  • Why we need to study street‐level policy entrepreneurs

    Open Access•Nissim Cohen, Gwen Arnold et al.•European Policy Analysis•2023

  • Policy Entrepreneurs and the Design of Administrative Reform

    Open Access•Nissim Cohen•European Policy Analysis•2025

  • Policy entrepreneurship on the street‐level

    Open Access•Ofek Edri-Peer, Maria Cristina Silveira et al.•European Policy Analysis•2023

  • Hydraulic fracturing and political conflict

    Open Access•Ramiro Berardo, Fynn Holm et al.•Energy Research & Social Science•2020

  • Health in All Policies’ and the Urge for Coordination

    Open Access•Tor-Ivar Karlsen, Charlotte Kiland et al.•Societies•2022

  • How quasi-government policy entrepreneur promotes environmental policy innovation in China

    Liuqing Ren, Shiming Zheng•Journal of Asian Public Policy•2024

  • Civil society as policy entrepreneur in agriculture and forestry sector amidst Covid-19 lockdown in India

    Gautam Prateek, Kaustubh Kumar et al.•Journal of Asian Public Policy•2021

  • How village heads become street-level policy entrepreneurs

    Wang Hui, Kang Guo et al.•Journal of Asian Public Policy•2025

  • To sandbox or not to sandbox? Diverging strategies of regulatory responses to FinTech

    Open Access•Ringa Raudla, Egert Juuse et al.•Regulation & Governance•2024

  • Policy Entrepreneurs in Public Administration

    Open Access•Elia Petridou, Per Becker et al.•Politics & Policy•2021

  • Views on the hill

    Open Access•Jennifer Lewallen•Politics & Policy•2024

  • Explaining public policy change in a developing country

    Open Access•William Asante•Politics & Policy•2022

  • The times make a hero

    Open Access•Na Tang, Muyu He•Review of Policy Research•2023

  • Ideas and Policy Response to the Covid-19 Crisis

    Open Access•Tauchid Komara Yuda, Nur Qomariyah•Social Policy and Society•2022

  • Regional Organisations and Policy Entrepreneurs

    Open Access•Que Anh Dang, Miguel Antonio Lim et al.•Higher Education Policy•2026

  • Urban climate governance under the national government shadow

    Mahir Yazar, Abigail M York•Journal of Urban Affairs•2021

  • Subnational policy entrepreneurs in action

    Open Access•Todd Yuda Shi, Alex Jingwei He•Journal of Public Policy•2025

  • Straddling multiple streams

    Open Access•Peter Eckersley, K Lakoma•Policy Studies•2022

  • Venue Shopping in Multiple Streams

    Open Access•Brian Stelbotsky, Loretta Fowler•Administration & Society•2023

  • Policy entrepreneurs and individuals

    Open Access•Kristin Taylor, Rob A Deleo et al.•Public Administration Review•2023

  • Distinguishing the street‐level policy entrepreneur

    Open Access•Gwen Arnold•Public Administration•2020

  • Finding, distinguishing, and understanding overlooked policy entrepreneurs

    Open Access•Gwen Arnold, Meghan Klasic et al.•Policy Sciences•2023

  • Media actors as policy entrepreneurs

    Open Access•Katie Attwell, Adam Hannah et al.•Policy Sciences•2024

  • A threat-centered theory of policy entrepreneurship

    Open Access•Gwen Arnold•Policy Sciences•2021

  • Preparedness and crisis‐driven policy change

    Open Access•Zachary Spicer, Joseph Lyons et al.•Canadian Public Administration•2023

  • Identifying proactive and reactive policy entrepreneurs in collaborative networks in flood risk management

    Per Becker, Jörgen Sparf et al.•Policy & Politics•2024

  • Critical race theory, policy ambiguity and implementation

    Jen Schneider, Loretta Fowler et al.•Policy & Politics•2024

  • Testing the Multiple Streams Framework in US state legislatures

    Rob A Deleo, Rob Deleo et al.•Policy & Politics•2025

  • Estimating the effect of policy entrepreneurship on individual vaccination behavior during the Covid‐19 pandemic

    Open Access•Kristin Taylor, Rob A Deleo et al.•European Policy Analysis•2023

  • Theoretical Advances in the Scholarship of Policy Entrepreneurship

    Open Access•Elia Petridou, Jörgen Sparf et al.•European Policy Analysis•2025

  • Bricolage and beyond

    Open Access•Mark C Hand, Colin Birkhead•European Policy Analysis•2023

  • Policy entrepreneurship for transformative governance

    Open Access•Gwen Arnold, Sara Ludwick et al.•European Policy Analysis•2024

  • Transnational environmental governance

    Open Access•Qingge Geng, Karl Lo•Sustainable Futures•2025

  • Do decision-maker diversity, trust, and policy entrepreneurship matter when steering transformative urban climate governance

    Open Access•Le Anh Nguyen Long, Rachel M Krause et al.•Cities•2025

  • Political will as a source of policy innovation

    Open Access•Shiran Victoria Shen•Policy Studies Journal•2025

  • Not just the nation's hostess

    Open Access•Mary R Anderson, Mary Anderson et al.•Policy Studies Journal•2024

  • Four more years! (of policy process research in a Trump administration)

    Open Access•Chris Koski•Policy Studies Journal•2025

  • Theorizing reactive policy entrepreneurship

    Open Access•Elia Petridou, Roine Johansson et al.•Policy Studies Journal•2024

  • A Research Agenda for the Study of Policy Entrepreneurs

    Open Access•Elia Petridou, Michael Mintrom•Policy Studies Journal•2021

  • Beyond regulatory capture

    Open Access•Ahmed Fouad El Haddad•Review of Policy Research•2024

  • The Advocacy Coalition Framework

    Paul A Sabatier, Paul Sabatier et al.•Theories Of The Policy Process,…•2019

  • Policy Entrepreneurs, Policy Opportunists, and Legislative Effectiveness

    Open Access•Carol S Weissert•American Politics Quarterly•1991

  • A dendrite method for cluster analysis

    T Caliński, J Harabasz•Communications in Statistics•1974

  • Deserving and Entitled

    Anne L Schneider, Herbert Ingram et al.•Deserving and Entitled•2005

  • Local health policy development processes in the Netherlands

    Open Access•Marjan Hoeijmakers, Evelyne De Leeuw et al.•Health Promotion International•2007

  • Policy Innovation, Intergovernmental Relations, and the Adoption of Climate Protection Initiatives by U.S. Cities

    Rachel M Krause•Journal of Urban Affairs•2011

  • Are Policy Entrepreneurs Really Decisive in Achieving Policy Change? Drought Policy in the USA and Australia

    Open Access•Linda Courtenay Botterill•Australian Journal of Politics &…•2013

  • Fractured Communities

    Open Access•Brittany Gaustad, Peter Hall et al.•Fractured Communities•2018

  • Internet, Phone, Mail, and Mixed‐Mode Surveys

    Don A Dillman, Jolene D Smyth et al.•Internet, Phone, Mail, and…•2014

  • The Logic of Collective Action

    Mancur Olson•Logic of Collective Action•1965

  • The Progrowth Entrepreneur in Local Government

    Open Access•Mark Schneider, Paul Teske•Urban Affairs Quarterly•1993

  • Wind(ow) of Change

    Open Access•Neomi Frisch-Aviram, Nissim Cohen et al.•Policy Studies Journal•2020

  • Eisenhower's Scientists

    Open Access•Julia Macdonald•Foreign Policy Analysis•2013

  • Setting a Course

    Open Access•Ralph G Carter, Jennifer M Scott et al.•International Studies Perspectives•2004

  • Comparative Policy Entrepreneurship

    Dana Lee Baker, Trudy Steuernagel•Journal of Comparative Policy…•2009

  • Climate Protection and Energy Sustainability Policy in California Cities

    Myungjung Kwon, Hee Soun Jang et al.•Journal of Urban Affairs•2014

  • Exploring the Social Roots of Smart Growth Policy Adoption by Cities

    Open Access•Lenahan O’connell, Lenahan O'Connell•Social Science Quarterly•2008

  • The Bureaucratic Entrepreneur

    Paul Teske, Mark Schneider•Public Administration Review•1994

  • An advocacy coalition framework of policy change and the role of policy-oriented learning therein

    Open Access•Paul A Sabatier, Paul Sabatier•Policy Sciences•1988

  • The Social Responsibilities of a Public Entrepreneur

    Open Access•Peter Kobrak•Administration & Society•1996

  • The Antigrowth Entrepreneur

    Mark Schneider, Paul Teske•The Journal of Politics•1993

  • Policy Networks and Innovation Diffusion

    Michael Mintrom, Sandra Vergari•The Journal of Politics•1998

  • Emerging Issues and Future Directions in State Policy Diffusion Research

    Open Access•Andrew Karch•State Politics & Policy Quarterly•2007

  • Policy Expansion in Local Government Environmental Policy Making

    Open Access•Gwen Arnold, Le Anh Nguyen Long•Public Administration Review•2018

  • Testing Competing Explanations for Policy Adoption

    Open Access•Richard C Feiock, Richard Feiock et al.•Political Research Quarterly•1993

  • Social Networks and Policy Entrepreneurship

    Open Access•Gwen Arnold, Le Anh Nguyen Long et al.•Policy Studies Journal•2017

  • Policy Entrepreneurship and Policy Change

    Open Access•Michael Mintrom, Phillipa Norman•Policy Studies Journal•2009

  • Policy Entrepreneurs

    Nancy Roberts, Paula J King•Journal of Public Administration…•1991

  • Policy entrepreneurs and controversial science

    Michael Mintrom•Journal of European Public Policy•2013

  • Relational attributes of political entrepreneurs

    Dimitris Christopoulos, Dimitrios C Christopoulos•Journal of European Public Policy•2006

  • Policy entrepreneurs and promotion of Australian state knowledge economies

    Michael Mintrom, Chris Salisbury et al.•Australian Journal of Political…•2014

  • Policy Entrepreneurs and the Diffusion of Innovation

    Michael Mintrom•American Journal of Political…•1997

  • "The Politics of "Fracking

    Open Access•Charles Davis•Review of Policy Research•2012

  • Realizing water transitions

    Open Access•Dave Huitema, Sander Meijerink•Conservation Ecology•2010

  • Home rule and natural gas development in New York

    Open Access•Jeanne Simonelli•Journal of Political Ecology•2014

  • Water Management in Spain

    Open Access•Nuria Font, Joan Subirats et al.•Conservation Ecology•2010

  • Policy Entrepreneurs, Issue Experts, and Water Rights Policy Change in Colorado

    Open Access•Deserai A Crow•Review of Policy Research•2010

  • What influences government adoption of vaccines in developing countries? A policy process analysis

    Open Access•Syarifah Liza Munira, Scott A Fritzen•Social Science & Medicine•2007

  • Whose Backyard and What's at Issue? Spatial and Ideological Dynamics of Local Opposition to Fracking in New York State, 2010 to 2013

    Open Access•Fedor A Dokshin•American Sociological Review•2016

  • Mixture model tests of cluster analysis

    Roger K Blashfield•Psychological Bulletin•1976

  • Archetype analysis in sustainability research

    Open Access•Christoph Oberlack, Diana Sietz et al.•Conservation Ecology•2019

  • Innovation and Implementation in the Public Sector

    Open Access•Willie Mack, W R Mack et al.•Review of Policy Research•2008

  • Toward a Theory of the Political Entrepreneur

    Open Access•Mark Schneider, Paul Teske•American Political Science Review•1992

Unique citing works48
Citations per year8
Citation span2020 - 2026 (7)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 48

Tools

Open DOISci-HubOpen Access
Ethnos_APP • Open Source Project • MIT License • Frontend v2.0.0 • Privacy and Cookies • API Documentation: api.ethnos.app/docs • API Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17049435 • Frontend Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17050053 • cruz.rio.br • Expectantes Misericordiae