Street‐level bureaucrats and policy entrepreneurship: When implementers challenge policy design

Abstract

Abstract Linking street‐level bureaucracy with policy entrepreneurship is a new, ongoing trend in the literature. We claim that in various cases one must consider street‐level policy entrepreneurship in order to fully understand policy processes. Therefore, we call on public policy and administration scholars to devote more resources to this important link. The symposium will promote our understanding of this still underresearched area. We will explore both theoretically and empirically how bureaucrats who interact with the public on a daily basis not only implement policy but also influence how it is designed. We will also assess the contribution of the symposium papers in light of the existing scholarly debate. We will conclude by reflecting on the challenges of studying street‐level policy entrepreneurship and suggest future avenues for research in this field.