Policy Transfer in Public Administration: How it Works in Practice

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to discuss introduction of New Public Management (NPM) ideas in Latvian public administration after 1990 in the context of policy transfer. Since, policy transfer concept includes a wide scope of actors involved, the paper will concentrate upon politicians and elected officials. Politicians are the only actors in policy transfer who can decide to transfer entire policies. In this respect, the motivation of politicians imposed by external and internal constraints to use policy transfer is relevant. In order to explore scope of policy transfer utilised during administrative transformation in Latvia, the author will analyse governmental declarations and the activities performed as the main source describing governmental commitments.