International Political Science Association

Research Committee 25:

Comparative Health Policy

Research Focus

The current research focus (2000 - 2006) is described on the home page. The research focus from 2000 to 2003 is described as follows:

The research program adopted at the IPSA World Congress in 2000 outlines analytical issues that RC 25 wishes to address. Research that focuses on one or more of the following is encouraged:

· Substantive focus (any industry with relevance to health or aspects of health care)

· Nature and kind of regulation (drawing a distinction between process and product regulation and the regulation of industry)

· Level of regulatory integration (global, transnational, regional, national or sub-national)

· Regulatory structure and decision-making

· Political game(s) of stakeholders, including the role of the state as regulator; the respective industry; professionals and managers; the role of committees dealing with scientific advice, setting standards, etc.; the shifting balance between public sector and private-sector interests

In this we follow OECD’s definition of regulation: the exercise of sustained control over an activity by a public agency (including both authorization for the release of products, and post-product monitoring).

The research focus from 1982 to 2000 is described as follows:

Members address various health policy issues, including (but not limited to) modes of financing, privatisation, corporatist and non-corporatist decision-making, policy networks, self-help, and health promotion. We seek to compare commonalities over time, place and substance as well as to contrast non-governmental and governmental experiences in organising, financing, regulating and delivering health care services. We are also interested in the connections between health policy and sustainable development, and seek to explore the benefits for health care found in the investment in human capital and democratic participation in public policies.

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