Publication
Overlooking the obvious? Understanding patterns of policy inaction in organisational decision-making
In this article, Sanneke Kuipers and Machiel van der Heijden examine how patterns of policy inaction emerge in public organisations, arguing that systematic biases and organisational decision premises contribute to the failure of policymakers to address pressing societal issues.
- Author
- Sanneke Kuipers & Machiel van der Heijden
- Date
- 09 April 2026
- Links
- Read the full article here
This article argues that patterns of policy inaction result from systematic biases and blind spots embedded in the organisational design and institutional context of ministerial departments and public agencies. By explicitly specifying the microfoundations of policy inaction, the authors develop a theoretical model that explains how entrenched policy goals and rigid organisational structures can impede policy action. The model is illustrated through two cases: the childcare benefits scandal involving the Dutch Tax Authority and mining-induced earthquakes in the province of Groningen. In both cases, decision premises embedded in bureaucratic structures contribute to the failure to act on critical signals.
The article identifies mechanisms including the internalisation of formalised policy objectives, cognitive biases induced by horizontal specialisation, the dampening effect of vertical hierarchy, and responsibility avoidance due to rigid role divisions. Together, these mechanisms link institutional structures to patterns of policy inaction. Formalised policy objectives may become organisational 'mantras', creating blind spots and limiting alternatives. Hierarchical layers dampen urgency of signals, while rigid divisions between policymaking and implementation lead to dismissal of concerns as isolated incidents.
By focusing on decision premises, the article links macro-level structures to micro-level actions. It moves beyond political intentionality or the 'wickedness' of problems, showing how non-intervention stems from inability to process information outside established parameters.