Public Policy Evaluation in the Andalusian Government Agenda

Abstract

[EN] This article examines the integration of public policy evaluation into the governmental agenda of the Autonomous Community of Andalusia from 2000 to 2024. This study is structured as a qualitative case analysis, employing a hybrid theoretical framework that integrates Kingdon's Multiple Streams Framework (MSF) with Baumgartner and Jones's Punctuated Equilibrium Theory (PET). The research tracks the evolution of this technical instrument from a peripheral status to its increasing institutionalization within the political-administrative system of Andalusia. Utilizing documentary sources including legislation, government programs, parliamentary initiatives, and political discourse alongside academic contributions, interviews, media coverage, and specialized literature, the study identifies the principal actors, strategies, and contextual factors facilitating this transformation. The findings indicate that the incorporation of evaluation into the governmental agenda was not the outcome of a singular strategic decision but rather a cumulative and non-linear process. This process was influenced by policy entrepreneurs, windows of opportunity for administrative reform, shifts in political coalitions, and the emergence of an active epistemic community. Ultimately, this study contributes to the discussion on institutional change and underscores the analytical value of integrating theoretical models to explain agenda-setting dynamics in regional governance such as Andalusia.