policybruk

Policybruk is a term used in public policy and governance research to describe how policies are used in practice by actors, beyond their formal text. It covers the ways in which policy instruments, goals, and ideas are interpreted, adapted, and repurposed as they are applied in different settings. The concept emphasizes the gap between policy design and actual application, focusing on the dynamic, context-dependent nature of policy use.

Scholars study policybruk to understand how agencies, municipalities, NGOs, the private sector, and citizens deploy policies to achieve objectives, negotiate constraints, or advance competing interests. Key aspects include appropriation and reinterpretation of policy instruments, bricolage to fit local conditions, diffusion and imitation across organizations, and strategic timing of implementation. The processes often involve compromises, resource constraints, legal constraints, and political bargaining.

Outcomes of policybruk can affect effectiveness, legitimacy, and equity, as adjustments and learning occur during implementation. Measuring policybruk is challenging because it depends on context, actors, and time, and may not be visible in formal policy texts.

Examples include a national employment program that is implemented differently by regional offices, or a health policy whose core aims are preserved while procedures are adapted to local healthcare systems. Limitations include definitional ambiguity and overlap with related concepts such as policy implementation and policy diffusion.