beleidsspectrum

Beleidsspectrum, literally “policy spectrum” in Dutch, refers to the range of policy instruments and approaches available to government to achieve policy objectives. It is used in public policy analysis to map what tools a government can deploy and how they can be combined to address a problem.

The spectrum is not a fixed checklist but a framework for categorizing policy instruments. Common categories include regulatory measures (norms, standards, bans), economic incentives (taxes, subsidies, price signals, cap-and-trade), information and persuasion (public campaigns, labeling, education), public provision and service delivery (government-led programs and facilities), and organizational or institutional arrangements (partnerships, licensing, governance reforms). Public-private partnerships and negotiated settlements can also occupy space on the spectrum, depending on the degree of state involvement.

In practice, policymakers use the beleidsspectrum to design policy packages that balance effectiveness, efficiency, legitimacy, and political feasibility. For example, environmental policy may employ a mix of emissions standards, carbon pricing, subsidies for clean technologies, and information campaigns to change behavior. Health or housing policy similarly combines regulation, subsidies, and service delivery to achieve objectives.

Evaluators use the policy spectrum to compare alternatives along criteria such as expected impact, cost, distributional effects, and administrative feasibility. Challenges include coordinating multiple instruments, avoiding unintended consequences, and maintaining adaptability to changing conditions. The beleidsspectrum thus supports deliberate, evidence-based choice and iterative policy design.