GOVERNMENT-INDUSTRY-RELATIONS AND POLICY COORDINATION IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL SECTOR

In comparative political science the concept of policy networks has mainly been used to analyse single policies. By contrast, this analysis of the relations between government and pharmaceutical industry compares not only the intervention networks (safety control of drugs and cost containment policy) in West Germany, Great Britain and France, but also the networks which coordinate the regulation and promotion of the pharmaceutical industry. This comparison shows that there are more national differences between the coordination networks than between the intervention networks. Only in France hierarchical coordination dominates, in Great Britain and West Germany organized interests and political parties are integrated in the process of coordination. These differences can be explained by national particularities in organising state and society.