A Framework for Assessing the Performance of Policy Networks

This article deals with the question of how to assess policy network performance. We propose three dimensions of policy network performance (production, process, and regime) that are derived from both performance and network literature. Each of these dimensions can be linked to the costs of policy networks. The framework goes beyond the one-dimensional new public management conceptualization of performance that focuses on efficiency and effectiveness. A policy network assessment needs to take into account other public principles such as democratic quality and capacity building.