The Integration and Coordination of Public Policies: A Systematic Comparative Review

This article undertakes a systematic comparative review of research on policy integration and coordination. Specifically, it compares studies focusing on “policy integration” with those using “joined-up government” or “whole-of-government” as key analytical concepts. It discusses differences and similarities between the two groups of articles in terms of empirical and theoretical focus as well as research design, and concludes by suggesting that the existence of different strands of literature makes sense but more exchanges across them are both possible and welcome, so as to align organizational and policy-related factors for the analysis of the relations between policy sectors.