Abstract

Over the last decades, research in the public policy field has shown that the action of individuals (or groups) named as "public policy entrepreneurs" constitutes a central aspect in the policy-making process. Based on the most recent theoretical bibliography, this study aims to analyze the concept of public policy entrepreneur, by addressing the role of this significant player in three theoretical models: John Kingdon's multiple streams model, Baumgartner and Jones' punctuated equilibrium model, and Sabatier and Jenkins-Smith´s advocacy coalition framework). The analysis shows there are two crucial dimensions in entrepreneur's action. First, these players take a major role in advocating for the ideas related to defining problems and structuring debates about solutions. Second, the entrepreneur is an essential element in the explanatory mechanisms about rapid changes in the models by Kingdon and Baumgartner and Jones. Thus, the study explores the features of the concept of public policy entrepreneur in these theoretical models, and it also points out the limits and contributions of the concept to grasp the public policy-making process.

Keywords:
Public policies; Public policy entrepreneurs; Public policy changes; Agenda formation