Government policy as a learning journey: developmental history of the Brazilian “Diesel Crisis”
Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy
ISSN: 1750-6166
Article publication date: 8 January 2025
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to explore how conflicting factors create tensions that hinder the development of effective policies. It specifically focuses on the broken connections between government policies and social-economic sectors. The study intends to explain how differing and often opposing interests in creating government policy influence the learning process.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a research methodology that combines developmental work research as a framework with historical case studies for collecting data. The process starts by identifying a problem and challenges related to the Brazilian “Diesel Crisis”. Following this, an analysis of the activity system was undertaken to uncover contradictions and tensions related to policy development.
Findings
The key results of the study focus on the learning process of public policy by (1) spotting gaps between government policies and socio-economic areas, (2) finding potential sources for a learning path and shared growth, (3) identifying various conflicting interests in the development of government policy, (4) creating learning possibilities in a complex and diverse environment and (5) offering solutions for resolving conflicting relationships in government policy development.
Originality/value
This study highlights the importance of recognizing the complicated social setting where public policy learning takes place, emphasizing the duality of collaboration and conflicting interests among different government bodies, policymakers and community members as they use tools and rules to reach their objectives.
Keywords
Citation
Altman Ferreira, P.S. and Reis, J.P. (2025), "Government policy as a learning journey: developmental history of the Brazilian “Diesel Crisis”", Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/TG-08-2024-0196
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited