Title: Policy choices, institutional constraints and policy learning: The Spanish science and technology policy in the eighties

Authors: Luis Sanz-Menendez

Addresses: Institute for Advanced Social Studies, Spanish National Centre for Scientific Research, IESA-CSIC, Alfonso XII, 18,5. 28014 Madrid, Spain.

Abstract: The article reviews Spanish science and technology policy in the eighties. It assumes that these policies are not only the result of rational choice processes, but also the outcome of institutional arrangements and political battles. It develops a framework which considers that ideas, interests, and institutions must be part of the analysis and includes insights into the limits that political institutions impose on the social learning process about policies. With this frame it attempts to provide an explanation of the main reasons for the specific choices made in science and technology policy in Spain: Why was it included on the political agenda of the new socialist government? Why were the choices and institutions so much science oriented? Why was there no technology-innovation policy until the end of the decade? What was the dominant policy paradigm in science and technology policy? Which interests were at work? Why was he learning process about science and technology policies were so limited?

Keywords: science and technology institutions; public policy; science policy; technology policy; Spain; national innovation systems; policy choices; institutional constraints; policy learning; technological innovation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.1995.025646

International Journal of Technology Management, 1995 Vol.10 No.4/5/6, pp.622 - 641

Published online: 23 May 2009 *

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