This working group studies public policy developments from all over the world, be it on either the national, regional or local level. Every year, during the annual IASIA conference, papers are proposed within four categories:
- Theoretical papers: Addressing theoretical approaches to understanding public policy making in general; for example, novel issues such as co-production, evidence-based policymaking, nudging, or in a more classical way, explaining the effectiveness, efficiency, legitimacy and/or rationality of public policies, public decisions and their implementation.
- Empirical papers: Addressing new and innovative forms of policy development, decision-making and implementation emphasizing whether such innovations could be seen as best practices. Such papers could be single case studies about innovative and creative approaches in designing and implementing policies and collaboration; for instance, between different levels of governments and their environment. Papers in this category can address any policy area such as the environment, education, immigration, health, or social security.
- Problem based papers, pointing out deficiencies in the understanding of public policy, public decision-making or policy-implementation, and examples of policy failure.
- Papers relating public policies, decision-making processes and implementation issues to the conference theme of the specific IASIA conference selected for the specific year.
