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Abstract. This review attempts to assess the validity and usefulness of the arguments of the so‐called 'International Regimes' approach and the political‐institutional view with respect to economic policy formation and economic performance. In particular, the works of Keohane and Krasner on the one hand, and of Katzenstein on the other are examined. It turns out that both viewpoints can largely contribute to a better understanding of why economic interdependence is such a vital factor for domestic politics and policies. At the same time it appears also to be evident that 'corporatism' can be an asset in weathering the effects of these growing international economic pressures. Yet both approaches have serious theoretical and methodological weaknesses. The concept of 'International Regime' remains too vague and, in addition, is empirically difficult to pin down. Moreover, it seems unable to account for much extant discord.'Corporatism' is also prone to these faults as well as tending to over explain certain developments, which may render cross‐national differences in economic performance as incomprehensible. Notwithstanding these shortcomings, there is so much to build on that both approaches merit further attention and discussion.

A review essay on P. J. Katzenstein's Corporatism and Change. Austria, Switzerland, and the Politics of Industry & Small States in World Markets. Industrial Policy in Europe (Ithaca & London: Cornell U Press, 1984 & 1985, respectively); R. O. Keohane's After Hegemony. Cooperation and Discord in the World Political Economy (Princeton, NJ: Princeton U Press, 1984); & International Regimes (Krasner, S. D. [Ed], Ithaca & London: Cornell U Press, 1983 [see listings in IRPSPPD No. 16]). Keohane & Krasner adopt an "international regime" approach, & Katzenstein a political-institutional or "corporatist" view, with respect to economic policy formation & economic performance. Both perspectives can contribute to a better understanding of why economic interdependence is such a vital factor for domestic politics & policies, though all these works have theoretical & methodological weaknesses: they are vague, empirically difficult to pin down, & unable to account for much extant discord. In addition, corporatism tends to overexplain certain developments, rendering cross-national differences in economic performance incomprehensible; however, it can be an asset in weathering the effects of growing international economic pressures. More sophisticated methodology is needed if political science is to adequately assess the value of these theoretical approaches. 30 References. Modified HA

Die Niederlande haben, trotz ihres scheinbar korporatistischen Interessenvermittlungssystems, eine tiefgreifende Beschäftigungskrise nicht verhindern können. Diese Entwicklung verweist auf ein Erklärungsdefizit vergleichender politikwissenschaftlicher Analysen der wirtschaftspolitischen Steuerungskapazität kapitalistischer Länder. Anknüpfend an das von Fritz W. Scharpf entwickelte Konzept der Strategiewahl wird versucht, bestehende Defizite der Korporatismusforschung durch eine systematischere Beschreibung der Funktionsweise des Interessenvermittlungssystems (das als eher "sektoralistisch" denn korporatistisch zu erkennen ist) und des Politikverlaufs in den Niederlanden aufzuheben. (AuD-Br)

The rational choice perspective is prominent in many sociological, economic and political science literature but has been undervalued until now in the field of science studies. This special issue attempts to revalorise this perspective by introducing the principal-agent theory with relation to research policy-making. The introduction presents the basic features of the model of principal-agent and reviews the theoretical development and applications in research policy. It summarises the main findings of the articles in this issue and concludes that the studies in the framework of principal-agent demonstrate the willingness of combining theoretical rigour and 'requisite variety' by applying the theory to a large number of different fields linked to research policy-making.