The Public Policy and Governance Research Group includes experts in public administration, public policy, management, economics, and law who conduct studies on the various stages of the public policy process intending to enhance the quality of governance and public management. In addition to focusing on the public policy process, the group follows positivist approaches emphasising evidence-based public policies, which involve using data to guide policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation. It also explores budgetary policy themes with a particular emphasis on financial sustainability, taxation, and the quality of public spending. The group strives to identify best practices to achieve excellence in public management, including strategies to enhance governance and performance management. It seeks ways to make public services more effective, efficient, and accessible in the realm of public sector innovation, focusing specifically on digital transformation. Finally, the research group examines governance challenges, with a sector-specific emphasis on health administration.
Its research focuses on:
01. Public Policy Process: Analysing the complex and dynamic interaction among ideas, actors, and institutions as a continuous, comprehensive process from problem definition to decision reformulation. This includes agenda setting, consensus building, and the proposal of negotiated solutions. Concerning the design and instruments of public policy adopted, attention is given to the public policy implementation process, identifying the main bottlenecks and the reasons for major failures.
02. Evidence-Based Public Policies: Highlighting the importance of using data in the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of public policies, especially for budgetary policy analysis, particularly relating to financial sustainability, taxation, and the quality of public spending.
03. Ethics and Excellence in Public Management: Identifying and seeking best practices related to excellent public management, notably at the level of transparency and accountability. This includes strategies for improving governance, performance management, and public oversight.
04. Innovation in the Public Sector: Focusing on adopting and implementing digital technologies to enhance the efficiency, effectiveness, and accessibility of public services.
05. Challenges in Governance: Considering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), seeking to promote high-quality governance in sectoral policies in strategic areas for Portugal, such as the environment, infrastructure, and the Welfare State, with a particular emphasis on health administration and policies.
Researchers in the Governance and Public Policies research group include: