Termination, Innovation, and the American States: Testing Sunset Legislation

Authors

  • Mark R. Daniels

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15763/issn.2374-7781.1994.15.0.507-518

Abstract

This article provides the first empirical assessment of a theory which links policy termination and policy innovation. This theory, advanced in 1983 by Garry Brewer and Peter deLeon. states that a government’s capacity for adopting innovative policies is dependent upon its ability to terminate outdated organizations, policies and programs. Several hypotheses relating to the general policy innovativeness of the American states and the adoption of Sunset legislation are tested. The results reveal an unexpected inverse relationship between termination and innovation. Although only sparse supporting evidence is obtained for the theory tested, additional insight is obtained about how some states regard Sunset review as a method of strengthening legislative oversight.

References

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Published

1995-01-01

Issue

Vol. 15: Winter 1994

Section

Articles

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