No. 14

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The Institutional Preconditions for Knowledge-based and Sustainable Public Policy in Estonia

18 December 2006

Studies

RiTo No. 14, 2006

  • Aare Kasemets

    Aare Kasemets

    Editor-in-Chief of Riigikogu Toimetised issues 1–3

What are the institutional preconditions for a knowledge-based and sustainable public policy?

How to assess the expedience and sustainability of political decisions? In the opinion of the writer, Estonia needs a national action plan to shore up policies, action plans, and regulations, including preparing and implementation of legal acts, which would systematically build a foundation for knowledge-based policy, sustainable development, impact assessment and participatory involvement. The article provides an overview of the international context and of analysis of knowledge-based public policy, law and administration and integrating principles, which allow assessment of the expedience, validity and sustainability of the drafting and implementation of policies instituted by either the European Union and the Estonian Riigikogu and the government. In the light of the results of comparative studies of assessment of the effects of explanatory memoranda attached to draft laws submitted by the Government – as well as of comparative studies on the involvement of parties – the strength of the requirements of knowledge-based policy is evaluated, focusing on the political will, coordination of the work of ministries, ministries’ administrative and analytical capacity, and prerequisites related to checks and balances on the executive branch. The article closes with a few policy recommendations for increasing the effect of the strategic management and regulations and the proposals made by Estonian universities and research institutions for intensifying the cooperation with policy planners and scholars.

Full article in Estonian

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