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Nonpunctuated and Sweeping Policy Change: B hutan Tobacco Policy Making from 1991 to 2009
Author(s) -
Givel Michael
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
review of policy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.832
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1541-1338
pISSN - 1541-132X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1541-1338.2012.00583.x
Subject(s) - punctuated equilibrium , realism , government (linguistics) , economics , public policy , policy analysis , public economics , public administration , political economy , political science , economic growth , art , paleontology , linguistics , philosophy , literature , biology
This paper examines policy outputs associated with the 2004 B hutan antitobacco law, including 2009 amendments, to determine if the law is congruent with punctuated equilibrium or social policy realism theories of policy change. There was no direct and sudden tobacco policy output change in B hutan due to a shock to the policy system contrary to what punctuated equilibrium theory would predict. Rather, policy change was sweeping but nonpunctuated. This paper reconfirms prior findings of social policy realism theory that various and complex policy output patterns occur due to a mixture of contingent and complex factors. Under social policy realism, a complex interplay of factors drive policy with the state, corporate actors, and interest groups, and the market often playing a primary role. These complex policy outputs have a direct impact on society and the natural environment reflected in government policy output actions or inactions.