LIST OF PANELS

Despite the well-known advances in the public policy field of study in the last decade, it is still an embryonic analysis of policy mixes and capacities. In this sense, the panel's primary goal is to discuss policy instruments' combination in terms of setting, interaction, and effects. The secondary focus is on how policy capacity, including skills, competencies and capabilities (Wu, Howlett & Ramesh 2018), is being built and evolving to understand performance in different policy sectors better. This research agenda seems even more relevant in the context of governance, meaning a set of relational dynamics involving multiple actors interconnected by formal and informal institutions to produce state policy capacities (Capano, Howlett & Ramesh 2015). Thus, it is essential to investigate policy mixes and the interactions between their inherent governance mechanisms (hierarchy, market and networks). Besides, how they impact the public issues and the effects of the interactions themselves, which can be complementary or supplementary, generate synergies, but counterproductive as well. This avenue for research is quite broad, from the emphasis on the instruments' choice, whether coordinated or not, to the types and dimensions in which these interactions occur, including time and geographic spaces in specific policy areas. Therefore, the panel addresses the following research questions: how are governments formulating and implementing policy mix to deal with current and dynamic governance challenges? How do policies interact and affect the outcomes in different sectors, such as social, infrastructure, environmental and economic? What skills and competencies are required to build the capacity to improve the policy mix? How to foster an innovative culture and capacity in public organizations by designing effective policies? To deepen in these issues is crucial for advancing the understanding of how the public sector currently operates and deals with complex and constant changes in a period of scarce resources and increasing demand for better and innovative government deliveries and solutions.

Despite the well-known advances in the public policy field of study in the last decade, it is still an embryonic analysis of policy mixes and capacities. In this sense, the panel's primary goal is to discuss policy instruments' combination in terms of setting, interaction, and effects. The secondary focus is on how policy capacity, including skills, competencies and capabilities (Wu, Howlett & Ramesh 2018), is being built and evolving to understand performance in different policy sectors better. This research agenda seems even more relevant in the context of governance, meaning a set of relational dynamics involving multiple actors interconnected by formal and informal institutions to produce state policy capacities (Capano, Howlett & Ramesh 2015). Thus, it is essential to investigate policy mixes and the interactions between their inherent governance mechanisms (hierarchy, market and networks). Besides, how they impact the public issues and the effects of the interactions themselves, which can be complementary or supplementary, generate synergies, but counterproductive as well. This avenue for research is quite broad, from the emphasis on the instruments' choice, whether coordinated or not, to the types and dimensions in which these interactions occur, including time and geographic spaces in specific policy areas. Therefore, the panel addresses the following research questions: how are governments formulating and implementing policy mix to deal with current and dynamic governance challenges? How do policies interact and affect the outcomes in different sectors, such as social, infrastructure, environmental and economic? What skills and competencies are required to build the capacity to improve the policy mix? How to foster an innovative culture and capacity in public organizations by designing effective policies? To deepen in these issues is crucial for advancing the understanding of how the public sector currently operates and deals with complex and constant changes in a period of scarce resources and increasing demand for better and innovative government deliveries and solutions. Intending to contribute to this relevant debate, this panel welcomes papers with different approaches – theoretical, methodological, and empirical, that cover the variety of issues concerning policy mix and capacity; governance arrangements and processes; bureaucracy and coordination instruments in any government sector. Additionally, we encourage researchers to present papers discussing detailed case studies or comparative approaches of countries or subnational levels.