Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

acceptedVersion

Publication Date

6-2025

Abstract

Policy innovation labs (PILs) are relatively new policy actors and are part of a larger global “labification” movement. They are touted as spaces for the novel development and testing of policy solutions. PILs have evolved into various forms–including those at different levels of government (central, sub-national, and local), sectoral (such as food, transportation, and environment), and cross-sectoral labs (social innovation and data labs). After a decade, some practitioners lament the effectiveness of their efforts and question if policy labs are indeed engines of innovation and change. We argue that the approach to policy design by PILs, in part, is an explanation for their perceived ineffectiveness. It is unclear what their role is in the policy design process. From a sample of 149 PILs worldwide, we employ Cashore and Howlett’s (2007) 3 × 3 nine-dimensional hierarchical policy classification framework characterized by policy focus (abstract goals, program objectives, and micro policy goal targets) and policy means (instrumental logic, program mechanism, and tool calibration). Our website content analysis found that key PIL characteristics, namely their broad focus and oversight, had little to no influence on their policy design activity. We develop five policy design typologies from the above policy mix framework, namely “Classic Policy Designers,” “Advisors,” “Dreamers,” “Planners,” and “Technicians.” The remaining labs' policy design foci were too broad or misaligned.

Keywords

Policy innovation labs, Policy design, Website content analysis

Discipline

Political Science | Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration

Research Areas

Political Science

Publication

Policy Sciences

Volume

58

Issue

2

First Page

267

Last Page

286

ISSN

0032-2687

Identifier

10.1007/s11077-025-09577-6

Publisher

Springer

Copyright Owner and License

Authors

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11077-025-09577-6

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