Chapter abstract
A widely used distinction in implementation studies is differentiating between top-down and bottom-up approaches. The top-down approach focuses on legal and hierarchic implementation and regards good implementation as a consequence of adequate control and unambiguous attribution of competencies. Research in this tradition highlights many mediating factors that strengthen or hinder implementation: policy design, characteristics of the involved actors, hierarchy and adequate control or available resources. In contrast, the bottom-up perspective emphasises the everyday practices of policy implementers and rule-addressees on the local level and thus favours a more organisational approach. This starts with the policy problem and the perceptions of actors involved in the process and assumes that constellations of actors and interests, motivations, bargaining power and the degree of change play a role in determining whether implementation will be successful or not. The chapter contrasts the two approaches, discusses their strengths and weaknesses and reflects upon the theoretical and empirical literature that has developed to integrate them.
Buzogany, A. and Pülzl, H. 2024. Top-down and bottom-up implementation. In Sager, F., Mavrot, C. And Keiser, L. R. (eds.). Handbook of Public Policy Implementation. Chapter 9, ps. 116-126.