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Creating an Infrastructure for Comparative Policy Analysis
Author(s) -
Baumgartner Frank R.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
governance
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.46
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1468-0491
pISSN - 0952-1895
DOI - 10.1111/gove.12243
Subject(s) - chapel , citation , library science , sociology , computer science , history , art history
The study of comparative public policy has changed dramatically in the 30 years since Governance has been in operation, and the journal has played an important role in fostering these shifts. While the next generation will hopefully see continued progress, in this short reflection I want to draw attention to some of the important steps that we have made toward the creation of a truly integrated literature on comparative public policy, in particular as it relates to studies of the policy process, my own area of research. While we should not be complacent about where we stand—many unresolved puzzles remain—neither should we underestimate our progress. And we should recognize the importance of this particular journal in helping to create it. To my mind, it has helped eliminate many artificial or epiphenomenal sources of difference, so that we can focus on the more important areas: theoretical difference in what explains public policy.