Understanding institutional changes in economic restructuring and innovation policies in Slovenia and Estonia. Issue 4 (October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Karo, Erkki; Looga, Ly
• Is Part Of: Journal of international relations and development. Volume 19:Issue 4(2016)
• Page Start: 500
• Page End: 533
• Publication Date: 2016-10
• Subjects: Estonia -- innovation policy -- institutional change -- new institutionalism -- Slovenia; Economic development -- Periodicals; International relations -- Periodicals; Economic assistance -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Developing countries -- Economic conditions -- Periodicals; Slovenia -- Foreign relations -- Periodicals; 327.05
• DOI: 10.1057/jird.2014.23
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1408-6980

Abstract

Abstract This paper analyses the evolution of two interlinked policy trajectories — economic restructuring and innovation policies — in two different economies: Slovenia and Estonia. We distinguish two sets of theoretical frameworks that explain institutional changes in these policies: rational-choice institutionalism (varieties of capitalism), and a mix of historical and sociological institutionalisms (systems of innovation). We show that they are both rather ill-equipped for explaining institutional changes in Central and Eastern European (CEE) economies. We argue that greater attention to politico-administrative context — or, the institutional setting of policy design and implementation — and a more elaborate use of the tools of discursive institutionalism could enlighten the analyses of the evolution of economic policies and forms of socio-economic coordination in CEE.