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Institutional and Policy Responses to Uncertainty in Environmental Policy: A Comparison of Dutch and U.S. Styles
Author(s) -
Arentsen Maarten J.,
Bressers Hans Th.A.,
O'Toole Laurence J.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
policy studies journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1541-0072
pISSN - 0190-292X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1541-0072.2000.tb02050.x
Subject(s) - sketch , policy learning , context (archaeology) , environmental policy , adversarial system , political science , institutional theory , public economics , public administration , environmental resource management , economics , sociology , computer science , social science , geography , law , archaeology , algorithm , machine learning
Uncertainties regarding problem definition and policy response are an endemic pan of environmental decisionmaking. Some standard responses to uncertainty in decisionmaking are analyzed and then used to suggest the importance of learning‐oriented policy processes in open, flexible, and adaptive institutional environments. The institutional and policy responses to both types of uncertainties are explored in two different institutional settings: the consensus‐oriented setting of the Netherlands and the more adversarial and pluralistic context of the United States. The examination displays tensions accompanying learning‐oriented environmental policymaking and the complex impact of institutional environments. Conclusions sketch implications for how to accommodate learning‐oriented environmental policy processes.