Michael Howlett - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Michael Howlett

Research paper thumbnail of Policy Integration and Multi-Level Governance: Dealing with the Vertical Dimension of Policy Mix Designs

Multifaceted problems such as sustainable development typically involve complex arrangements of i... more Multifaceted problems such as sustainable development typically involve complex arrangements of institutions and instruments and the subject of how best to design and operate such 'mixes', 'bundles' or 'portfolios' of policy tools is an ongoing issue in this area. One aspect of this question is that some mixes are more difficult to design and operate than others. The paper argues that, ceteris paribus, complex policy-making faces substantial risks of failure when horizontal or vertical dimensions of policy-making are not well integrated. The paper outlines a model of policy mix types which highlights the design problems associated with more complex arrangements and presents two case studies of similarly structured mixes in the areas of marine parks in Australia and coastal zone management in Europe—one a failure and the other a successful case of integration—to illustrate how such mixes can be better designed and managed more effectively. Issue This article is part of a multidisciplinary issue of Politics and Governance, edited by Andrej J. Zwitter (University of Gronin-gen, The Netherlands) and Amelia Hadfield (Canterbury Christ Church University, UK).

Research paper thumbnail of Policy Integration and Multi-Level Governance: Dealing with the Vertical Dimension of Policy Mix Designs

Multifaceted problems such as sustainable development typically involve complex arrangements of i... more Multifaceted problems such as sustainable development typically involve complex arrangements of institutions and instruments and the subject of how best to design and operate such 'mixes', 'bundles' or 'portfolios' of policy tools is an ongoing issue in this area. One aspect of this question is that some mixes are more difficult to design and operate than others. The paper argues that, ceteris paribus, complex policy-making faces substantial risks of failure when horizontal or vertical dimensions of policy-making are not well integrated. The paper outlines a model of policy mix types which highlights the design problems associated with more complex arrangements and presents two case studies of similarly structured mixes in the areas of marine parks in Australia and coastal zone management in Europe—one a failure and the other a successful case of integration—to illustrate how such mixes can be better designed and managed more effectively. Issue This article is part of a multidisciplinary issue of Politics and Governance, edited by Andrej J. Zwitter (University of Gronin-gen, The Netherlands) and Amelia Hadfield (Canterbury Christ Church University, UK).

Research paper thumbnail of The Supply of Policy and Management Consultancies to Canadian Federal Departments: New Evidence on Contract Size, Type and Structure

SSRN Electronic Journal, 2000

ABSTRACT The use of external consultants in government has been an increasingly important focus o... more ABSTRACT The use of external consultants in government has been an increasingly important focus of attention in many countries, including Canada. Numerous studies were undertaken in the 1990s and 2000s as legislatures and their accounting arms became concerned with this practice but they yielded little information on key questions such as the average size of contracts and their dispersion. Utilizing a new federal government dataset compiled from data released since the creation of the Federal Accountability Act in Canada, beside the increasing demand for consulting services, we find a trend emerging in supply whereby a small group of companies have began to dominate federal government management consulting in terms of the size of contract awarded. However the vast majority of contracts remain small and medium-sized and often involve repeat services, resulting in a complex system of consulting activity and impacts across different units.

Research paper thumbnail of The relevance of the academic study of public policy

The Relevance of Political Science, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of The Old Reality and the New Reality: Party Politics and Public Policy in British Columbia 1941–1987

Studies in Political Economy, 1988

Research paper thumbnail of After “the Regulatory Moment” in Comparative Regulatory Studies: Modeling the Early Stages of Regulatory Life Cycles

Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis Research and Practice, Feb 11, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of Understanding the Regulatory Moment: Uncovering the Initial Stages in the Development of a Regulatory Regime

Research paper thumbnail of Canadian Environmental Politics and Policy

Research paper thumbnail of Introduction to the Special Issue on Communications, The Media and Policy in Canada

Canadian Political Science Review, May 16, 2009

Thecomplexityofthelate-modernglobalizingorderhasacceleratedtheerosion of time and space and has r... more Thecomplexityofthelate-modernglobalizingorderhasacceleratedtheerosion of time and space and has radically undermined the apparent solidities of borders,identities,andthesocialrelationsofproduction.Hybridity,fluidity,risk, andindividuatedself-reflexivityareamongtheconceptsthatsocialresearchers everywhere have grasped in order to anchor their attempts to apprehend the eruptions and disruptions that condition phenomenologies of the present. Among the most affected social theories are those of communications. The informational and communicational order that was taken for granted even a generation ago has been supplanted by a complex of global networks, mobilities, and flows. Media analysis, which is an important subfield of communications,hasundergoneparticulartransformation.FromInnistoAngus communications theory has been more than a rich product of Canadian scholarship;thelivedexperienceofspaceandland,natureandtechnologyhas conditioned the very possibility of Canadian social theory. In this way, the emergingcontributionstoscholarshipinpoliticsandcommunications,profiledin thisspecialissue,areabletotakeusbeyondthepostmodernclaimthat"allthat is solid melts into air." While called upon to innovate and re-examine our theoreticalframeworks,chosenmethodologies,andcriticalmattersofempirical enquiry, we do so on the basis of established research traditions that suggest certain future directions as we attempt to think through media and communicationsinanincreasinglyglobalCanada.

Research paper thumbnail of Government Communication as a Policy Tool: A Framework for Analysis

Canadian Political Science Review, May 16, 2009

Exactly what is meant by the term, however, varies from author to author. In this paper governmen... more Exactly what is meant by the term, however, varies from author to author. In this paper government communication is conceived as a policy tool or instrument, that is, as a means to give effect to policy goals. Three key policyrelevant aspects of the term are examined: (1) the link between government communications and the 'nodality' or information resource set out by Hood in his study of policy instruments; the role of government communications in the'front-end'ofthepublicpolicyandproductionprocessesrelatedtoagendasetting,policyformulationandproduceractivitiesasopposedtothe'back-end' of policy implementation, policy evaluation,, consumption and distribution and (3) the general aims of network management and overcoming information asymmetrieswhichhelpexplaintherangeofproceduralandsubstantivepolicy toolsusedingovernmentcommunicationefforts.Amodeloffourbasictypesof government communications is developed and examples provided of each general category. The implications of this analysis for cross-national comparative policy analyses of government communication activities and the evaluationofaccountabilityandpolicyefficacyincontemporarygovernanceare thendiscussed.

Research paper thumbnail of Introduction: The Determinants of Policy Change: Advancing the Debate

Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis Research and Practice, Mar 1, 2009

GILIBERTO CAPANO* and MICHAEL HOWLETT** *University of Bologna (Forli), Italy; **Simon Fraser Uni... more GILIBERTO CAPANO* and MICHAEL HOWLETT** *University of Bologna (Forli), Italy; **Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada ABSTRACT The issue of policy dynamics is a key one in policy studies and one which is particularly amenable to comparative policy ...

Research paper thumbnail of Multi-level Governance and Place-Based Policy-Making for Climate Change Adaptation: The European Experience and Lessons for British Columbia

Bc Studies the British Columbian Quarterly, Oct 24, 2012

Research paper thumbnail of Canadian Natural Resource And Environmental Policy: Political Economy And Public Policy

CANADIAN nun r 11 tmt RESOURO^^^M AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY SECOND EDITION Political Economy and P... more CANADIAN nun r 11 tmt RESOURO^^^M AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY SECOND EDITION Political Economy and Public Policy Melody Hessing, Michael H and Tracy Summervitte ... Melody Hessing, Michael Howlett, and Tracy Summerville Canadian Natural Resource and ...

Research paper thumbnail of The Search For Substance: Externalization, Politicization and the Work of Canadian Policy Consultants 2006-2013

ABSTRACT The nature of policy advisory systems and the capacity and influence of individual syste... more ABSTRACT The nature of policy advisory systems and the capacity and influence of individual system actors has been a subject of much interest in recent years, especially vis-à-vis observed trends towards the twin themes of politicization and externalization of policy advice. Studies to date for the most part have focused only on the capacity of highly visible advisory system actors such as professional policy analysts in government or those in the NGO and business sectors. This study examines the role of the ‘shadow’ or ‘invisible’ actors employed by governments on temporary contracts as managerial or other kinds of policy consultants to undertake activities related to policy development and evaluation processes. The study reports on the findings of a 2012-2013 survey of such consultants in Canada and presents data on relevant aspects of their background, training, perceptions and capabilities compared to permanent policy analysts employed fulltime by governments. It finds most consultants to be better qualified than their permanent counterparts and to primarily engage, like the latter, in process-related policy work. This answers some questions about the roles and relationships of these members of the advisory system but raises other questions about where the ‘substance’ of policies originates.

Research paper thumbnail of L'exercice infirmier avaanc�: param�tres pour une int�gration r�ussie

Healthcare Management Forum, 1999

Research paper thumbnail of Executive Styles in Canada : Cabinet Structures and Leadership Practices in Canadian Government

EXECUTIVE STYLES IN CANADA Cabinet Structures and Leadership Practices in Canadian Government Edi... more EXECUTIVE STYLES IN CANADA Cabinet Structures and Leadership Practices in Canadian Government Edited by Luc Bernier, Keith Brownsey, and Michael Howlett Canada's political regime is centred on the existence of a federal sys-tem of government within the ...

Research paper thumbnail of The Efficiency Engine – Cost-Effec tive Alternative to Downsizing

Auto Tech Review, Feb 1, 2012

Research paper thumbnail of Studying Public Policy: Policy Cycles and Policy Subsystems

Ergonomie aux postes de travail. La prévention des Troubles musculo-squelettiques (TMS) (Performa... more Ergonomie aux postes de travail. La prévention des Troubles musculo-squelettiques (TMS) (Performances, 9Q137) La prévention des Troubles musculo-squelettiques (TMS) constitue une préoccupation majeure de santé publique. Aujourd'hui, les TMS sont reconnus « ...

Research paper thumbnail of Shifting Mandates and Climate Change Policy Capacity: The Canadian Infrastructure Case

Canadian Political Science Review, Jul 4, 2012

Responsive policy-making on climate change issues requires both sophisticated policy analysis as ... more Responsive policy-making on climate change issues requires both sophisticated policy analysis as well as an institutional structure which allows problems to be dealt with on a multi-level and multi-sectoral basis. Designing such policies requires a high level of policy capability in relevant government departments and agencies matching changing organizational mandates in the area. This paper examines Infrastructure Canada's evolving mandate over the past decade and assesses whether or not its resource allocation has matched any shifts in government expectations for the agency due arising from climate change challenges. Provincial data are also examined in a similar light.

Research paper thumbnail of Complex Network Management and the Governance of the Environment: Prospects for Policy Change and Policy Stability Over the Long Term

This chapter examines the prospects for Canadian governance of medium to longterm trends in the e... more This chapter examines the prospects for Canadian governance of medium to longterm trends in the environment. It finds policy processes promoting both policy change and policy stability to exist, but argues that those enhancing the prospects for policy change are likely to predominate. The chapter notes that internationalization of environmental management efforts, ecological crises, economic re-structuring and changes in Canada's social and political systems are likely to promote rapid paradigmatic policy change. However, it argues that such change can either be resisted or facilitated by a programme of network management activities undertaken by Canadian governments. The paper outlines several procedural policy tools which can be utilized by Canadian governments towards either end.

Research paper thumbnail of Policy Integration and Multi-Level Governance: Dealing with the Vertical Dimension of Policy Mix Designs

Multifaceted problems such as sustainable development typically involve complex arrangements of i... more Multifaceted problems such as sustainable development typically involve complex arrangements of institutions and instruments and the subject of how best to design and operate such 'mixes', 'bundles' or 'portfolios' of policy tools is an ongoing issue in this area. One aspect of this question is that some mixes are more difficult to design and operate than others. The paper argues that, ceteris paribus, complex policy-making faces substantial risks of failure when horizontal or vertical dimensions of policy-making are not well integrated. The paper outlines a model of policy mix types which highlights the design problems associated with more complex arrangements and presents two case studies of similarly structured mixes in the areas of marine parks in Australia and coastal zone management in Europe—one a failure and the other a successful case of integration—to illustrate how such mixes can be better designed and managed more effectively. Issue This article is part of a multidisciplinary issue of Politics and Governance, edited by Andrej J. Zwitter (University of Gronin-gen, The Netherlands) and Amelia Hadfield (Canterbury Christ Church University, UK).

Research paper thumbnail of Policy Integration and Multi-Level Governance: Dealing with the Vertical Dimension of Policy Mix Designs

Multifaceted problems such as sustainable development typically involve complex arrangements of i... more Multifaceted problems such as sustainable development typically involve complex arrangements of institutions and instruments and the subject of how best to design and operate such 'mixes', 'bundles' or 'portfolios' of policy tools is an ongoing issue in this area. One aspect of this question is that some mixes are more difficult to design and operate than others. The paper argues that, ceteris paribus, complex policy-making faces substantial risks of failure when horizontal or vertical dimensions of policy-making are not well integrated. The paper outlines a model of policy mix types which highlights the design problems associated with more complex arrangements and presents two case studies of similarly structured mixes in the areas of marine parks in Australia and coastal zone management in Europe—one a failure and the other a successful case of integration—to illustrate how such mixes can be better designed and managed more effectively. Issue This article is part of a multidisciplinary issue of Politics and Governance, edited by Andrej J. Zwitter (University of Gronin-gen, The Netherlands) and Amelia Hadfield (Canterbury Christ Church University, UK).

Research paper thumbnail of The Supply of Policy and Management Consultancies to Canadian Federal Departments: New Evidence on Contract Size, Type and Structure

SSRN Electronic Journal, 2000

ABSTRACT The use of external consultants in government has been an increasingly important focus o... more ABSTRACT The use of external consultants in government has been an increasingly important focus of attention in many countries, including Canada. Numerous studies were undertaken in the 1990s and 2000s as legislatures and their accounting arms became concerned with this practice but they yielded little information on key questions such as the average size of contracts and their dispersion. Utilizing a new federal government dataset compiled from data released since the creation of the Federal Accountability Act in Canada, beside the increasing demand for consulting services, we find a trend emerging in supply whereby a small group of companies have began to dominate federal government management consulting in terms of the size of contract awarded. However the vast majority of contracts remain small and medium-sized and often involve repeat services, resulting in a complex system of consulting activity and impacts across different units.

Research paper thumbnail of The relevance of the academic study of public policy

The Relevance of Political Science, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of The Old Reality and the New Reality: Party Politics and Public Policy in British Columbia 1941–1987

Studies in Political Economy, 1988

Research paper thumbnail of After “the Regulatory Moment” in Comparative Regulatory Studies: Modeling the Early Stages of Regulatory Life Cycles

Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis Research and Practice, Feb 11, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of Understanding the Regulatory Moment: Uncovering the Initial Stages in the Development of a Regulatory Regime

Research paper thumbnail of Canadian Environmental Politics and Policy

Research paper thumbnail of Introduction to the Special Issue on Communications, The Media and Policy in Canada

Canadian Political Science Review, May 16, 2009

Thecomplexityofthelate-modernglobalizingorderhasacceleratedtheerosion of time and space and has r... more Thecomplexityofthelate-modernglobalizingorderhasacceleratedtheerosion of time and space and has radically undermined the apparent solidities of borders,identities,andthesocialrelationsofproduction.Hybridity,fluidity,risk, andindividuatedself-reflexivityareamongtheconceptsthatsocialresearchers everywhere have grasped in order to anchor their attempts to apprehend the eruptions and disruptions that condition phenomenologies of the present. Among the most affected social theories are those of communications. The informational and communicational order that was taken for granted even a generation ago has been supplanted by a complex of global networks, mobilities, and flows. Media analysis, which is an important subfield of communications,hasundergoneparticulartransformation.FromInnistoAngus communications theory has been more than a rich product of Canadian scholarship;thelivedexperienceofspaceandland,natureandtechnologyhas conditioned the very possibility of Canadian social theory. In this way, the emergingcontributionstoscholarshipinpoliticsandcommunications,profiledin thisspecialissue,areabletotakeusbeyondthepostmodernclaimthat"allthat is solid melts into air." While called upon to innovate and re-examine our theoreticalframeworks,chosenmethodologies,andcriticalmattersofempirical enquiry, we do so on the basis of established research traditions that suggest certain future directions as we attempt to think through media and communicationsinanincreasinglyglobalCanada.

Research paper thumbnail of Government Communication as a Policy Tool: A Framework for Analysis

Canadian Political Science Review, May 16, 2009

Exactly what is meant by the term, however, varies from author to author. In this paper governmen... more Exactly what is meant by the term, however, varies from author to author. In this paper government communication is conceived as a policy tool or instrument, that is, as a means to give effect to policy goals. Three key policyrelevant aspects of the term are examined: (1) the link between government communications and the 'nodality' or information resource set out by Hood in his study of policy instruments; the role of government communications in the'front-end'ofthepublicpolicyandproductionprocessesrelatedtoagendasetting,policyformulationandproduceractivitiesasopposedtothe'back-end' of policy implementation, policy evaluation,, consumption and distribution and (3) the general aims of network management and overcoming information asymmetrieswhichhelpexplaintherangeofproceduralandsubstantivepolicy toolsusedingovernmentcommunicationefforts.Amodeloffourbasictypesof government communications is developed and examples provided of each general category. The implications of this analysis for cross-national comparative policy analyses of government communication activities and the evaluationofaccountabilityandpolicyefficacyincontemporarygovernanceare thendiscussed.

Research paper thumbnail of Introduction: The Determinants of Policy Change: Advancing the Debate

Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis Research and Practice, Mar 1, 2009

GILIBERTO CAPANO* and MICHAEL HOWLETT** *University of Bologna (Forli), Italy; **Simon Fraser Uni... more GILIBERTO CAPANO* and MICHAEL HOWLETT** *University of Bologna (Forli), Italy; **Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada ABSTRACT The issue of policy dynamics is a key one in policy studies and one which is particularly amenable to comparative policy ...

Research paper thumbnail of Multi-level Governance and Place-Based Policy-Making for Climate Change Adaptation: The European Experience and Lessons for British Columbia

Bc Studies the British Columbian Quarterly, Oct 24, 2012

Research paper thumbnail of Canadian Natural Resource And Environmental Policy: Political Economy And Public Policy

CANADIAN nun r 11 tmt RESOURO^^^M AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY SECOND EDITION Political Economy and P... more CANADIAN nun r 11 tmt RESOURO^^^M AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY SECOND EDITION Political Economy and Public Policy Melody Hessing, Michael H and Tracy Summervitte ... Melody Hessing, Michael Howlett, and Tracy Summerville Canadian Natural Resource and ...

Research paper thumbnail of The Search For Substance: Externalization, Politicization and the Work of Canadian Policy Consultants 2006-2013

ABSTRACT The nature of policy advisory systems and the capacity and influence of individual syste... more ABSTRACT The nature of policy advisory systems and the capacity and influence of individual system actors has been a subject of much interest in recent years, especially vis-à-vis observed trends towards the twin themes of politicization and externalization of policy advice. Studies to date for the most part have focused only on the capacity of highly visible advisory system actors such as professional policy analysts in government or those in the NGO and business sectors. This study examines the role of the ‘shadow’ or ‘invisible’ actors employed by governments on temporary contracts as managerial or other kinds of policy consultants to undertake activities related to policy development and evaluation processes. The study reports on the findings of a 2012-2013 survey of such consultants in Canada and presents data on relevant aspects of their background, training, perceptions and capabilities compared to permanent policy analysts employed fulltime by governments. It finds most consultants to be better qualified than their permanent counterparts and to primarily engage, like the latter, in process-related policy work. This answers some questions about the roles and relationships of these members of the advisory system but raises other questions about where the ‘substance’ of policies originates.

Research paper thumbnail of L'exercice infirmier avaanc�: param�tres pour une int�gration r�ussie

Healthcare Management Forum, 1999

Research paper thumbnail of Executive Styles in Canada : Cabinet Structures and Leadership Practices in Canadian Government

EXECUTIVE STYLES IN CANADA Cabinet Structures and Leadership Practices in Canadian Government Edi... more EXECUTIVE STYLES IN CANADA Cabinet Structures and Leadership Practices in Canadian Government Edited by Luc Bernier, Keith Brownsey, and Michael Howlett Canada's political regime is centred on the existence of a federal sys-tem of government within the ...

Research paper thumbnail of The Efficiency Engine – Cost-Effec tive Alternative to Downsizing

Auto Tech Review, Feb 1, 2012

Research paper thumbnail of Studying Public Policy: Policy Cycles and Policy Subsystems

Ergonomie aux postes de travail. La prévention des Troubles musculo-squelettiques (TMS) (Performa... more Ergonomie aux postes de travail. La prévention des Troubles musculo-squelettiques (TMS) (Performances, 9Q137) La prévention des Troubles musculo-squelettiques (TMS) constitue une préoccupation majeure de santé publique. Aujourd'hui, les TMS sont reconnus « ...

Research paper thumbnail of Shifting Mandates and Climate Change Policy Capacity: The Canadian Infrastructure Case

Canadian Political Science Review, Jul 4, 2012

Responsive policy-making on climate change issues requires both sophisticated policy analysis as ... more Responsive policy-making on climate change issues requires both sophisticated policy analysis as well as an institutional structure which allows problems to be dealt with on a multi-level and multi-sectoral basis. Designing such policies requires a high level of policy capability in relevant government departments and agencies matching changing organizational mandates in the area. This paper examines Infrastructure Canada's evolving mandate over the past decade and assesses whether or not its resource allocation has matched any shifts in government expectations for the agency due arising from climate change challenges. Provincial data are also examined in a similar light.

Research paper thumbnail of Complex Network Management and the Governance of the Environment: Prospects for Policy Change and Policy Stability Over the Long Term

This chapter examines the prospects for Canadian governance of medium to longterm trends in the e... more This chapter examines the prospects for Canadian governance of medium to longterm trends in the environment. It finds policy processes promoting both policy change and policy stability to exist, but argues that those enhancing the prospects for policy change are likely to predominate. The chapter notes that internationalization of environmental management efforts, ecological crises, economic re-structuring and changes in Canada's social and political systems are likely to promote rapid paradigmatic policy change. However, it argues that such change can either be resisted or facilitated by a programme of network management activities undertaken by Canadian governments. The paper outlines several procedural policy tools which can be utilized by Canadian governments towards either end.