The voice of implementation: Exploring the link between street‐level integration and sectoral policy outcomes

Abstract

AbstractIneffective policies plague democratic systems and challenge their legitimacy. While existing research highlights the importance of street‐level bureaucrats (SLBs) as de facto “policymakers,” our understanding of SLBs' aggregate effects on policy outcomes remains limited. Therefore, this paper proposes a shift in perspective, redirecting attention from the micro level toward institutional structures. It introduces the concept of street‐level integration, which captures institutional structures enabling SLBs to form a strong voice of implementation and contribute to policy design through three integrative pathways. Analyzing the effects of street‐level integration on environmental outcomes in 21 OECD countries over time, the findings reveal that street‐level integration not only directly enhances outcomes through increased implementation performance but also acts as a vital factor for policy formulation increasing the effectiveness of existing and newly adopted policies. While highlighting the importance of institutional structures and SLBs for successful policymaking, the paper also offers practical recommendations for institutional reforms.