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Inaction and public policy: understanding why policymakers ‘do nothing’

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Listed:
  • Allan McConnell

    (The University of Sydney)

  • Paul ’t Hart

    (Utrecht University)

Abstract

In recent decades, the policy sciences have struggled to come to terms with the significance of inaction in public policy. Inaction refers to instances when policymakers ‘do nothing’ about societal issues. This article aims to put the study of inaction on a new footing. It presents a five-part typology of forms of inaction before focusing on detail on core drivers of inaction found at four policy-making loci: individuals (coping behaviour), public organisations (information pathologies), governments (agenda control and protection) and networks (non-coordination and lack of feasibility). Acknowledging the conceptual and methodological challenges of researching inaction, it concludes by identifying strategies for putting ‘doing nothing’ (back) on the research agenda of the policy sciences.

Suggested Citation

  • Allan McConnell & Paul ’t Hart, 2019. "Inaction and public policy: understanding why policymakers ‘do nothing’," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 52(4), pages 645-661, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:policy:v:52:y:2019:i:4:d:10.1007_s11077-019-09362-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s11077-019-09362-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Moshe Maor, 2023. "From institutional tipping points to affective and direct tips: mythical institutions, policy ineffectiveness, and nonlinear political dynamics in East Germany, 1989–1990," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 56(3), pages 449-467, September.
    2. Prudence R. Brown & Alastair Stark, 2022. "Policy inaction meets policy learning: four moments of non-implementation," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 55(1), pages 47-63, March.
    3. John W. Straka & Brenda C. Straka, 2020. "Reframe policymaking dysfunction through bipartisan-inclusion leadership," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 53(4), pages 779-802, December.
    4. Katie Attwell & Tauel Harper & Marco Rizzi & Jeannette Taylor & Virginia Casigliani & Filippo Quattrone & PierLuigi Lopalco, 2021. "Inaction, under-reaction action and incapacity: communication breakdown in Italy’s vaccination governance," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 54(3), pages 457-475, September.
    5. Ali Farazmand & Hasan Danaeefard & Seyed Hosein Kazemi, 2024. "The Nexus of Policy Legitimacy and Crisismanship Performance: Examining the Harmonizing Role of Value-Based Decision Making," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 521-538, June.

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