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This article examines the evolution of our understanding of the critical junctures concept. The concept finds its origins in historical intuitionalism, being employed in the context of path dependence to account for sudden and jarring institutional or policy changes. We argue that the concept and the literature surrounding it—now incorporating ideas, discourse, and agency—have gradually become more comprehensive and nuanced as historical institutionalism was followed by ideational historical institutionalism and constructivist and discursive institutionalism. The prime position of contingency has been supplanted by the role of ideas and agency in explaining critical junctures and other instances of less than transformative change. Consequently, the concept is now capable of providing more comprehensive explanations for policy change.

This article examines the evolution of our understanding of the critical junctures concept. The concept finds its origins in historical intuitionalism, being employed in the context of path dependence to account for sudden and jarring institutional or policy changes. We argue that the concept and the literature surrounding it—now incorporating ideas, discourse, and agency—have gradually become more comprehensive and nuanced as historical institutionalism was followed by ideational historical institutionalism and constructivist and discursive institutionalism. The prime position of contingency has been supplanted by the role of ideas and agency in explaining critical junctures and other instances of less than transformative change. Consequently, the concept is now capable of providing more comprehensive explanations for policy change.

NZIER has been commissioned by Sister Cities New Zealand to investigate Sister City relationships. In 2003, we wrote a report about the economic benefits of Sister Cities and their potential for supporting regional economic development. The report featured interviews with a number of businesses and councils, and its key recommendations are contained in Appendix A to this report. Now, 16 years after our first report, NZIER has been recommissioned to: • follow up with the original interviewees and find out how their businesses have changed • explore what have been the learnings from successful attempts by some Sister Cities to commercialise their relationships. To develop an analytical framework, we also wanted to: • wrap an economic framework around Sister City relationships that explains their function and their drivers of success • within that economic framework, consider why some cities relationships have been more successful than others • support some initial policy thinking using the economic framework and the knowledge of what works for commercialising Sister Cities and what areas or bottlenecks need to be addressed for Sister City relationships to become regional engines of economic growth.

read before the Society, 26 April 2018; Symposium: ?Where? will the Economy be in 2040? Delivering on the National Development Framework ; The National Planning Framework (NPF) was published by Government together with the National Development Plan, as ?Project Ireland 2040?, in February 2018. An explanation of how the National Planning Framework will be implemented, is assisted by setting out the overall context for planning in Ireland, as well as the spatial pattern of settlement in recent decades. It is in this context that the logic and intent of the NPF strategy and the necessary levers for implementation, become apparent.

It's out with the old and in with the new. National's Social Investment approach is being replaced with a focus on Early Intervention. But the new government's focus should be on using evidence to support timely, if not always early, intervention. The health sector's experience with striking the right balance between prevention and cure offers valuable lessons that can help guide the way.

This article looks at the barriers to dealing with California's housing shortage and addressing climate change which are built into the existing regulations that govern development across the state. The history of planning and building codes is examined, showing that contrary to popular belief many of these rules were not implemented for health and safety reasons, but rather to boost property values by promoting economic and racial segregation. The article argues that the only way to deal with California's current challenges is to start over with a new set of regulations that promote denser development at lower cost and steer the state away from building more automobile-dependent sprawl.

The growing wealth gap in Argentina is affecting virtually every aspect of the society. Tensions between classes are tangible, especially as the political ideology is shifting to the right, and many of the poorer citizens feel abandoned by previous, quasi-socialist governments. In such a volatile period, any efforts to bridge the gap between the lower, middle, and upper class is more important than ever. During my stay in Argentina, I volunteered with a program called Fundacion Si, a program that allowed students and professionals to provide sustenance and assistance to the homeless community of Buenos Aires. We met twice a week, and would split into groups of three, then walk a predetermined route and offer food to people living on the sidewalk. But more than just food, we also provided a human link for these people who so often feel abandoned, as well as medical or legal aid. During my time volunteering, I compiled a series of vignettes documenting conversations I had with some of these people. These vignettes comprise the bulk of my project/research. I also wrote several short stories/poems/journal style pieces based off of my experience playing rugby, a sport generally associated with the upper class in Argentina, for an especially wealthy club. Many of my teammates (and best friends) belonged to some of the most historically powerful, rich families in the nation, and spending time with them allowed me a glimpse into the opinions and lifestyle of the ultrawealthy in Argentina. To contrast my experience working with the homeless, I will read an excerpt from two of these pieces, which demonstrate this other pole of lifestyle in Buenos Aires. Taken together, my hope is that the pieces represent the humanity I found in everyone, the fundamental characteristics of people, regardless of income or social status.