Summary of the Literature Discussion – Baumgartner et al.

Text: Baumgartner et al. (2013). Comparative Studies of Policy Dynamics. In: Comparative Political
Studies 44(8), p. 947-972.

1. How do the authors assess preferences, institutions and information and their relation to
policy change?

Researchers in political science set their focus on the role of institutions and preferences for
policy change whereas the variable “information” is rarely studied. It is assumed that difference
in institutions can explain different policies in different countries and that preferences play a
crucial role in the policy process within one country and are reflected in electoral processes
which in turn bring policy change (Baumgartner et al. 2013: 948).

However, the authors state that this change often also comes from the occurrence of new
information. They assume that policy makers try to maximize their behaviour with regard to their
policy preferences. If no complete information is available, the rational actors use the best
available information for the maximization. Baumgartner et al. point put that it is crucial to get to
know more about this information. Moreover, the attention, the new information gets, plays an
important role. All in all, they suggest to use “information” as an extra variable to explain policy
change to avoid confusion between shifting preferences and new information (Baumgartner et al.
2013: 948f).

2. What is the link between policy change, policy-making, agenda-setting and policy
dynamics?

Policy change = change in a specific subject in the content sphere of politics (such as going from free
market to governmental market interventions in crisis) (Baumgartner et al. 2013: 951)

Agenda-setting = Broad goals that are set by policy makers. There are different understandings on
how policies make it onto the agenda:

(1) The agenda of the media influences the political agenda.

(2) Institutions or political actors influence the agenda by “the sequence of voting on various
alternatives” (Baumgartner et al. 2013: 951)

(3) Dynamic policy-making process influences agenda setting: There are more problems than the
government will be able to address. Those who get the most attention, will make it onto the agenda
(Baumgartner et al. 2013: 951).

Policy dynamics = approach which includes the factors of information and “policy attention” into the
research on comparative political studies and into the explanation of different policies (Baumgartner
et al. 2013: 955).

According to the policy dynamics approach described here, which topic will be subject of the political
agenda (agenda-setting) depend on the attention the topic gets in the dynamic policy- making
process (policy-making) and differences in information and attention leads to policy change
(Baumgartner et al. 2013: 951ff.).

3. Which actors and institutional aspects are important for better understanding political
dynamics and policy change?
Actors:

- Media

- Government

- Parliamentary actors

- Institutions

- Researchers

Institutional aspects

- Information and the attention it gets. There is a trade-off between the attention of
information relevant for different fields of policy making (Baumgartner et al. 2013: 953).

- Preferences

4. Please transfer the knowledge from the paper and apply to a policy example you are
familiar with.
a. Which of the elements you have previously worked out do you find key?

In my opinion, especially the attention that a policy issues gets and the trade-off between different
policy subjects play an important role in explaining policy change.

b. What is the link to the aspects of „change“ and did it lead to /indicate any
„transformation“?

My policy example is the German „Atomausstieg“ which was triggered by the Fukushima nuclear
disaster that demonstrated the risks of nuclear power and led to the German phasing out of nuclear
power. There was a policy change because of the new attention drawn to the issue.