Title: Trends in the management of policy volatility: managing internal policy risk in three OECD countries

Authors: Michael Howlett; Ching Leong; Sonam Sahu

Addresses: Department of Political Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC, V5A 1S6, Canada ' Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, 469C Bukit Timah Road, 259772, Singapore ' Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, 469C Bukit Timah Road, 259772, Singapore

Abstract: Most studies of risk management examine only exogenous risks - that is, those external to the policy-making process such as the impact of climate change, extreme weather events, natural disasters or financial calamities. But there is also a large second area of concern - 'internal risks' or those linked to adverse or malicious behaviour on the part of policymakers. This behaviour to deceive or 'game' the intentions and expectations of government is a part of the policy world which also requires risk management. The paper reviews three archetypal cases of efforts to manage this side of policy risk in the UK, the USA and Australia and draws lessons from them about how this 'dark side' of policy-making can be managed.

Keywords: policy risk; risk management; public policy; policy volatility; internal risk.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPP.2022.127435

International Journal of Public Policy, 2022 Vol.16 No.5/6, pp.345 - 361

Received: 16 Aug 2021
Received in revised form: 10 Mar 2022
Accepted: 20 Apr 2022
Published online: 05 Dec 2022 *

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