Thesis

Explaining variation in public policy implementation : a network analysis of EU cohesion policy in Scotland

Creator
Awarding institution
  • University of Strathclyde
Date of award
  • 2015
Thesis identifier
  • T14244
Person Identifier (Local)
  • 201177675
Qualification Level
Qualification Name
Department, School or Faculty
Abstract
  • Networks are increasingly used by policy practitioners to implement public policy. However, evidence that network approaches to implementation are actually beneficial for policy performance is inconclusive. Only recently studies incorporate Social Network Analysis, allowing for the inclusion of specific structural network conditions and their relationship for performance. This research contributes to this growing area of study by exploring the relationship between network position and the performance of projects implemented under European Union Cohesion policy, the EU's regional policy instrument. A mixed methods approach is adopted, including quantitative analysis of all the projects and their performance - financial and physical, and semi-structured interviews. The conclusion is that the inclusion of more actors is not automatically beneficial for performance. Instead the research identifies specific conditions under which organisational actors can improve the probability of better performance.
Resource Type
DOI
Date Created
  • 2015
Former identifier
  • 1248429

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