Social science policy: Challenges, interactions, principals and agents

Abstract

Four science policy issues are discussed — intervention, interaction, interdisciplinarity, and international co-operation — in relation to how they affect the processes of making science policy, and have been shaped by them. The principal-agent model introduces to science policy the important concept of science policy as contractual delegation by policy-makers to scientists. It provides a framework in which the processes and challenges can be analysed and modelled. The ‘how’ and ‘why’ of science policy could be better understood. The funding agencies could work more closely together on these issues, but they will need to understand better their roles as both principals and agents.

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