Abstract
This paper proposes a reformulation of the concept of rationality in public policymaking. Following Lindblom's critique, it accepts that “comprehensive rationality” is unfeasible as a practical policymaking strategy, but suggests that a slightly recast concept could provide a suitable “ideal criterion” for the assessment of policymaking strategies. Adopting this “limited rationality” criterion, a variant of the “mixed scanning strategy” emerges as a basic prescription for the conduct of public policymaking, the paper provides a pair of case studies (in the field of transportation) to illustrate the need for mixed scanning.
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Gershuny, J.I. Policymaking rationality: A reformulation. Policy Sci 9, 295–316 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00136832
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00136832