Title of Submission
The Importance of the Policy Entrepreneur in Policy Adoption
Degree Program
Public Policy and Administration, PhD
Major Advisor Name
Sanghee Park
Type of Submission
Scholarly Poster
Abstract
What factors influence the likelihood that a state will adopt a policy? I argue that the role of a policy entrepreneur is vital to policy diffusion and eventual adoption. Performing Event History Analysis, I investigate 28 states over 7 years that have adopted Erin’s Law, a child abuse education policy. Preliminary findings suggest that the states in which Erin Merryn, the policy entrepreneur, visited increased the likelihood that the state would adopt Erin’s Law. Recognizing the important role of a policy entrepreneur has valuable implications for the policy and diffusion literature.
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