Solving cross-sectoral policy problems: adding a cross-sectoral dimension to assess policy performance

ABSTRACT

Many policy problems such as climate change, water pollution, or biodiversity loss originate in one sector or location but deploy their effects elsewhere and so require comprehensive regulation that is both source-directed and cross-sectoral. But, how can we assess a country’s cross-sectoral policy performance when it comes to solving complex (environmental) problems? To answer this question, the study examines pesticide regulation in Costa Rica. Synthetic pesticides are widely used to sustain agricultural production, but they constitute a risk for humans and nature. To assess policy performance, both the substantive (policy instruments) and institutional (legislation) aspects of policymaking targeting pesticide risks mitigation are considered for evaluation. More specifically, the policy mix of instruments in respective action plans as well as legislation in respective laws and regulations are analysed. To assess the cross-sectoral dimension and to add to literature on policy density and intensity, criteria like formulation of objectives, target group integration, coordination and policy instrument types are used. The findings indicate that policy mixes in the water and health sector exhibit high cross-sectoral performance in terms of source-directed instruments, but cross-sectoral performance in the overarching legislation is limited.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Policy instruments were extracted systematically in a two-step process. First, the documents were scanned for keywords such as ‘pesticides’, ‘(agro)chemicals’, ‘pollution’ and ‘risk’, and documents that did not contain these terms were excluded from the data analysis. Second, within the 15 selected programmes, instruments specifically targeting pesticide risk reduction (e.g. incentives for cleaner production or public awareness campaigns to sensitize the public about risks) were extracted and assigned to the three policy mixes. Some instruments overlap across mixes.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Swiss Network for International Studies; Eidgenössische Anstalt für Wasserversorgung Abwasserreinigung und Gewässerschutz.

Notes on contributors

Ruth Wiedemann

Ruth Wiedemann is a PhD student at Eawag, the aquatic research institute of the ETH domain in Dübendorf, Switzerland. She also holds an affiliation with the Institute of Political Science at the University of Bern and combines policy studies with environmental psychology to study pesticide use and regulation in the tropics.

Karin Ingold

Karin Ingold is a professor of policy studies and environmental governance at the Institute of Political Science and the Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of Bern. She also heads a research group at the Environmental Social Science Department at Eawag, the aquatic research institute of the ETH domain in Dübendorf, Switzerland. She studies cross-sectoral, multi-level, and trans-boundary environmental policy problems and solutions in Switzerland, Europe and around the world.