Policy Instruments for Steering Autopoietic Actors

Abstract

To consider the problem of governmental steering intelligently, we must have some insight into the tools or instruments that might be used by government. The instruments of government can be considered as the means by which it attempts to steer the behavior of non-governmental actors. It seems plausible that these instruments will be an influential variable in the process of governmental steering. In daily life, using a carrot will lead to other results than using a stick or a sermon. This is also the case with policy instruments and the policy analyst is therefore required to have theories on policy instruments at his disposal. One element of these theories should be a hypothesis about the autopoietic character of the target group which is to be steered. The autopoietic character of the target group which is to be influenced makes it difficult for the steering actor to evaluate the effects of his steering efforts.