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IDEAS AND INSTITUTIONAL CONVERSION THROUGH LAYERING: THE CASE OF ISRAELI IMMIGRATION POLICY
Author(s) -
SHPAIZMAN ILANA
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
public administration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.313
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1467-9299
pISSN - 0033-3298
DOI - 10.1111/padm.12112
Subject(s) - transformative learning , status quo , punctuated equilibrium , discretion , immigration , layering , positive economics , process (computing) , political science , political economy , economic system , law and economics , sociology , economics , law , computer science , paleontology , pedagogy , botany , biology , operating system
Gradual transformative policy change has attracted increasing attention in recent times. However, existing explanations for the evolvement of the various modes of such change do not account for the direction and content of change and also have difficulty with more complex policy change processes in which several modes are employed. Ideational analysis can fill this gap, albeit most ideational research does not address gradual policy and ideational changes. Based on a process tracing of two cases from Israeli immigration policy, this article argues that a low level of discretion and a strong status quo bias are conditions that enable institutional conversion through layering. Ideational change in policy solution and problem definition ideas, and the interaction between the two, can explain this pattern and its direction. The article not only expands our knowledge of gradual transformative change, but also moves ideational research a step beyond punctuated equilibrium.