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This article deals with theories in practice. A policy theory is defined as the total of causal and other assumptions underlying a policy. It can be reconstructed and represented in several ways, for instance by means of causal hypotheses, graphs, goal trees, and decision trees. A combination of these different ways of reconstruction is possible. The quality of a policy theory can be evaluated on the basis of several criteria, for example, the precision of formulation, the differentiation, the integration, the empirical value, and the legitimacy of the policy theory. In order to get more insight in the determinants of policy theories, it is important to compare them in longitudinal and cross-sectional research. The structure and quality of policy theories have effects on the contents, the process, and the results of a policy. It is a plausible hypothesis that the goal attainment of a policy will be higher as the precision, the differentiation, the integration, the empirical value, and the legitimacy of a policy theory are higher.

AbstractA review of evaluation findings on Dutch policy successes and failures points to the influence of political culture on policy effectiveness.

A review of evaluation findings on Dutch policy successes and failures points to the influence of political culture on policy effectiveness.

This article gives a survey of results of research concerning effects of public policy in the Netherlands. This survey is preceded by a summary of some important American projects (Equality of Educational Opportunity, Head Start, the Negative income tax).The Dutch research reported concerns effects of educational and housing policy on income distribution, effects of sururbanization policy, participation policy, and still other policies.In both countries the dominant conclusion is that the goals of public policy are at least partially realized by the means chosen. However, the conclusion that the welf are state is totally f ailing would go to f ar.Research concerning effects of public policy is still rare. Moreover, it is clear that some goals are realized at least in part by the chosen means.When public policy appears not to be effective, this can be explained from several factors : the contents of policy and the underlying theory, the policy process, the society, the research, and a view which is toonarrow because it takes only short term effects of one particular policy program into account.