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Problems of Operationalization and Data in EU Compliance Research

Author

Listed:
  • Miriam Hartlapp

    (Social Science Research Center Berlin, Germany, hartlapp@wzb.eu)

  • Gerda Falkner

    (Austrian Academy of Science, and University of Vienna, Austria, gerda.falkner@oeaw.ac.at)

Abstract

Substantial theoretical, conceptual and empirical advances have been made in research on the implementation of EU policies during recent years. However, our findings have remained ambivalent and our theoretical insights disparate. It therefore seems high time to address some methodological issues and to raise awareness of the limits of the various approaches and of the data commonly used. We highlight the challenges of operationalizing and of choosing adequate indicators for the dependent variable (compliance). We also discuss the promises and perils of different types of data used in the field, such as official statistics on notifications and infringements published by the European Commission.

Suggested Citation

  • Miriam Hartlapp & Gerda Falkner, 2009. "Problems of Operationalization and Data in EU Compliance Research," European Union Politics, , vol. 10(2), pages 281-304, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:eeupol:v:10:y:2009:i:2:p:281-304
    DOI: 10.1177/1465116509103370
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Carsten Hefeker & Michael Neugart, 2016. "Policy deviations, uncertainty, and the European Court of Justice," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 42(3), pages 547-567, December.
    2. Stine Aakre & Jon Hovi, 2010. "Emission trading: Participation enforcement determines the need for compliance enforcement," European Union Politics, , vol. 11(3), pages 427-445, September.
    3. Thomas König & Lars Mäder, 2013. "Non-conformable, partial and conformable transposition: A competing risk analysis of the transposition process of directives in the EU15," European Union Politics, , vol. 14(1), pages 46-69, March.
    4. Gerda Falkner, 2010. "Compliance with EU Social Policies in Old and New Member States: Different Worlds, Different Remedies," Working Papers of the Vienna Institute for European integration research (EIF) 6, Institute for European integration research (EIF).
    5. Bernard Steunenberg, 2010. "Is big brother watching? Commission oversight of the national implementation of EU directives," European Union Politics, , vol. 11(3), pages 359-380, September.
    6. Daniel Finke, 2020. "At loggerheads over state aid: Why the Commission rejects aid and governments comply," European Union Politics, , vol. 21(3), pages 474-496, September.
    7. Robert Thomson, 2010. "Opposition through the back door in the transposition of EU directives," European Union Politics, , vol. 11(4), pages 577-596, December.
    8. Emanuela Bozzini, 2023. "Laggard by Design: The Case of the Implementation of the EU Directive on the Agricultural Use of Sewage Sludge in Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-18, December.
    9. Henrik Scheller & Annegret Eppler, 2014. "European Disintegration – non-existing Phenomenon or a Blind Spot of European Integration Research? Preliminary Thoughts for a Research Agenda," Working Papers of the Vienna Institute for European integration research (EIF) 2, Institute for European integration research (EIF).
    10. Asya Zhelyazkova & Nikoleta Yordanova, 2015. "Signalling ‘compliance’: The link between notified EU directive implementation and infringement cases," European Union Politics, , vol. 16(3), pages 408-428, September.
    11. Lauren Peritz, 2018. "Obstructing integration: Domestic politics and the European Court of Justice," European Union Politics, , vol. 19(3), pages 427-457, September.

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