Complex Policy Design: Current Innovations in Conceptualization, Measurement, and Application

Call for Papers

Special Issue: Complex Policy Design: Current Innovations in Conceptualization, Measurement, and Application

Journal: Policy Design and Practice

Publisher: Taylor & Francis Group

Manuscript Deadline: 01 October 2026

About the Special Issue

Policy Design and Practice invites submissions for its Open Access Special Issue titled "Complex Policy Design: Current Innovations in Conceptualization, Measurement, and Application."

The Special Issue seeks to advance research on complex policy design, examining how the structure, depth, and institutional arrangements of policies influence interpretation, implementation, and effectiveness. It aims to bring together theoretical, methodological, and empirical contributions that improve understanding of policy complexity across different governance contexts.

Policy design involves balancing simplicity and complexity. While simpler policies are easier to implement, they may overlook important contextual considerations. More complex policy designs can enhance oversight, incorporate diverse stakeholders, and support context-sensitive decision-making, but they may also increase coordination challenges and implementation costs. This Special Issue encourages research that explores these trade-offs while offering innovative frameworks and practical insights for policymakers.

Scope and Topics of Interest

Submissions may include, but are not limited to:

• Theoretical conceptualizations of complex policy design

• Practical applications of policy complexity

• Frameworks explaining the causes and consequences of policy complexity

• Measurement and analytical approaches for policy complexity

• Computational methods for analysing digital policy texts

• Policy design trade-offs between simplicity and complexity

• Oversight, delegation, and institutional arrangements

• Cross-national and comparative policy design research

• Methodological innovations in policy analysis

• Practical implications for policymakers and governance

Submission Guidelines

• Submit an abstract of up to 500 words outlining the research questions, contribution, and relevance to policy theory, methods, and practice.

• Email abstracts to Saba Siddiki with the subject line: "Proposal for Special Issue on Complex Policy Design."

• Selected authors will be invited to submit full manuscripts by 01 October 2026.

• Final manuscripts must be submitted through the journal's official submission system.

Special Issue Editors

Saba Siddiki
Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University

Matia Vannoni
Department of Political Economy, King's College London

Chris Koski
Political Science Department, Reed College

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