Implementation of Social Policy Revisited

This article assesses the state of theory development in the study of social policy implementation and offers a political economy framework as a synthesis of current theory and research. The article reviews and classifies the major theoretical and empirical studies of implementation. On the basis of the review, a political economy model of implementation is developed, consisting of the following components: policy-making, policy instruments, critical actors, driving forces, service delivery system, and policy output. The policy output is measured by a correspondence index defined as the correspondence between eligible, processed, and served populations and between identified needs and services delivered. It is argued that policy output is determined by organizational systems which develop as a result of technological specifications, economic considerations, and power relations.