Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - DYNAMICS

Public policies are governmental activities to address societal and usually complex problems. The process of problem solving, however, is situated in a political setting shaped by divergent interests, structural changes and inherent uncertainty about the future. How public policies are designed and implemented is therefore shaped by the interaction of a variety of actors pursuing their specific interests which in term are shaped by the institutional and economic context. There is ample evidence in the policy literature that there is no “one size fits all” toolbox but rather different pathways and policy tools that can work towards the same goals.
This bi-weekly course for Master and PhD students introduces analytical perspectives to systematically discuss the process of policy making under these conditions using a highly influential body of theories in the comparative political economy field on “Varieties of Capitalism”, “Welfare Capitalism” and “Growth models”. A particular emphasis is put on the challenge of institutional reforms for policy-maker in complex policy fields such as welfare states, climate change and the Eurozone. We will discuss in detail why institutional change is likely to be politically costly for policymakers and what strategies these actors have at their disposal to avoid such costs and overcome the status-quo bias of existing institutions.