Institutionalizing Neutrally Competent Policy Analysis

Resources for Promoting Objectivity and Balance in Consolidating Democracies

Bibliographic Data

ID6330442
AuthorsDavid L Weimer (0000-0001-9237-623X, University of Wisconsin–Madison, corresponding author)
Year2005
Volume33
Issue2
Pages131-146
Publication date2005-05-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePolicy Studies Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0190-292X • E-ISSN: 1541-0072
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1541-0072.2005.00098.x
OpenAlexW2141393368
LanguageEN
Citations received15
References cited35

Creating institutions that foster the production of objective and balanced policy analysis is a challenging task for all types of regimes. The value of neutral competence often suffers in tradeoffs with the value of responsiveness, especially in the exercise of executive authority. Institutional designers, however, are not without resources for structuring arrangements to promote the production of objective and balanced policy analysis: organizations can be created with an incentive to achieve “reputations” for neutral competence; organizations can be isolated from being too politically responsive through forms of “independence”; for promoting interaction based on “professional norms” can be created to resolve conflicts about prediction; “participation in international organizations” can be leveraged to counteract domestic biases; and “transparency” can be employed to facilitate balancing of views or to shame severe abuses. This essay sets out the logic underlying design with these sorts of institutional resources, illustrates their use primarily in the U.S. context, and speculates on their application in consolidating democracies

Business · Competence (human resources · Economics · Incentive · Management · Microeconomics · Objectivity (philosophy · Political science · Public relations · Reputation · Structuring · Transparency (behavior · International Development and Aid · Law · Policy Transfer and Learning · Political Influence and Corporate Strategies

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