The Problem of Policy Change

Abstract

The citizen observing democratic governments at the beginning of the twenty-first century, hearing of their doings as reported by the media, or simply considering their impact on her own life, sees an image of constant flux. New laws are passed and regulations enforced; individuals seeking to gain or retain elected office promise “reform”; specialists, inside government and out, engage in passionate public debate about the relative merits of various policy options. It may come as a surprise to the citizen in question, accordingly, should she be inspired to undertake the academic study of political science or public policy, to learn that the most prestigious and commonly employed scientific models and theories in the field, while they differ among themselves on many points, have in common the prediction, if one takes their reasoning to its logical conclusions, that political life will be characterized not by change at all, but rather by continuity and even stasis.