Why Are Cross‐Sectoral Forums Important to Actors? Forum Contributions to Cooperation, Learning, and Resource Distribution. Issue 1 (23rd January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fischer, Manuel; Maag, Simon
• Is Part Of: Policy studies journal. Volume 47:Issue 1(2019)
• Page Start: 114
• Page End: 137
• Publication Date: 2019-01-23
• Subjects: polycentric governance -- ecology of games -- forum -- cross‐sectoral interaction -- Switzerland; Policy sciences -- Periodicals; Policy sciences -- United States -- Periodicals; Political planning -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- Periodicals; 320.6
• DOI: 10.1111/psj.12310
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0190-292X

Abstract

Abstract : Actors within an ecology of games in a polycentric governance system have to choose from a large number of forums they could participate in. This article analyzes why given types of forums are important to actors, as compared to other forums. It shows that functions of an ecology of games, such as cooperation, learning, and resource distribution, influence the importance that actors attribute to forums. The empirical analysis focuses on cross‐sectoral forums, a particular type of forum that is specialized in coordination among actors from different societal sectors, such as government, private interest, or science. Analysis of survey data from eight cross‐sectoral forums in Swiss habitat and land use governance and their 159 members shows that cross‐sectoral forums are comparatively important to actors that perceive their forum to contribute to learning and resource distribution.