Policy Instruments in Practice

Jordan, Andrew; Benson, David; Wurzel, Rüdiger; Zito, Anthony

Abstract

© The several contributors 2011. All rights reserved. This article is about the instruments that have been adopted by various governments to implement the decided policy on climate change. This article surveys the theoretical literature on instruments, identifying and unpacking key terms, and it sets out two ways to theorize and thus explains observed patterns of instrument selection 'in practice', the first based on actor behaviour and the second on the mediating effect of institutions. It also investigates instrument choices in one important governing context, namely the EU, which comprises twenty-seven Member States and hosts the world's largest single market. The analysis in this article mainly focuses on instrument selection and adoption practices rather than performance. It also focuses on the instruments associated with mitigating climate change rather than adapting to its unfolding impacts. Finally, this article draws together the main arguments and identifies future challenges in this rapidly developing area of climate change research and policy.

Citation

Jordan, A., Benson, D., Wurzel, R., & Zito, A. (2011). Policy Instruments in Practice. In J. S. Dryzek, R. B. Norgaard, & D. Schlosberg (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Climate Change and Society (536 - 549). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199566600.003.0036

• Online Publication Date: Jan 6, 2012
• Publication Date: Aug 18, 2011
• Pages: 536 - 549
• Book Title: The Oxford Handbook of Climate Change and Society
• ISBN: 9780191735271
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199566600.003.0036
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/400299
• Contract Date: Aug 1, 2011