Issues in Political Economy

Abstract

Many scholars refer to the political economy of public decision-making or policy implementation, but the term is often used, with little academic rigour, as a general reference to the importance of actors, interests and incentives. However, recent years have seen a growing body of literature that explores the micro-theoretical foundations of political economy relations, using a diverse mix of (mostly) behavioural approaches. From an applied research perspective, this development is particularly relevant, as these studies often produce a wealth of policy-relevant insights on the choice of institutions and public policies. Papers presented in this panel analyse the linkages between political and economic institutions in several public policy areas (fiscal policy, waste management, housing policy, social policies) and covering a diverse set of political regimes.