Economic Policy Think Tanks in Germany and the United States and their Strategies of Policy Advice

In: Zeitschrift für Politikberatung, Band 8, Heft 4, S. 174-190

Abstract

This paper approaches the question if and how think tanks still matter, i.e. if they can make a difference, by looking at the contribution of American and German think tanks with a thematic focus on economic and social policy (broadly defined) to policy-advice in general and at their role in emphasizing advice relevant to the world of work and to a workforce/employee perspective in particular. The epistemological interest focuses on think tanks's understanding of policy-making and advisory activities - including questions about the perceived influence and success of their advisory activities, the target groups of their consulting activities and the demand think tanks see for distinctive forms of policy advice, and in the question which consulting channels and instruments are utilized and how effective they are. In its second part, the paper addresses the question, how think tanks can advance and support policy research and policy advice around issues of the world of work and the employee/worker persepective.