The issue of institutional capacity has received increased attention in the research on policy integration, bringing about the proliferation of conceptions aimed at capturing the linkage between cross-sectoral aspects of policy designs and the specific attributes that governmental institutions and processes should possess in order to effectively formulate and implement integrated policies. This article contributes to reducing conceptual and analytical fragmentation in this field by elaborating on the different dimensions which compose the broadly defined ‘institutional capacity’ and outlining its link with policy integration. More specifically, our objective is threefold. First, we elaborate on the theoretical and conceptual accounts of institutional capacity with particular regard to integrated policy designs, suggesting an analytical framework that unpacks the different dimensions of institutional capacity through a range of empirical indicators. Second, we discuss the analytical, conceptual and empirical challenges that arise with the study of institutional capacities for policy integration, drawing also on the main findings provided by the contributions to the Thematic Issue. Third, we suggest some promising venues for future research and collect a number of policy-relevant recommendations on institutional capacity, policy integration and policy effectiveness.

中文翻译：

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导言：政策整合和机构能力：理论、概念和经验挑战

制度能力问题在政策整合研究中受到越来越多的关注，导致旨在捕捉政策设计的跨部门方面与政府机构和流程应具备的特定属性之间联系的概念激增，以有效地制定和实施综合政策。本文通过详细阐述构成广义“机构能力”的不同维度并概述其与政策整合的联系，有助于减少该领域的概念和分析碎片化。更具体地说，我们的目标是三重的。首先，我们详细阐述了机构能力的理论和概念说明，特别是在综合政策设计方面，提出了一个分析框架，通过一系列经验指标来揭示机构能力的不同维度。其次，我们讨论了在政策整合的制度能力研究中出现的分析、概念和实证挑战，同时还借鉴了对主题问题的贡献提供的主要发现。第三，我们为未来的研究提出了一些有前景的研究方向，并收集了一些关于制度能力、政策整合和政策有效性的政策相关建议。还利用对主题问题的贡献提供的主要发现。第三，我们为未来的研究提出了一些有前景的研究方向，并收集了一些关于制度能力、政策整合和政策有效性的政策相关建议。还利用对主题问题的贡献提供的主要发现。第三，我们为未来的研究提出了一些有前景的研究方向，并收集了一些关于制度能力、政策整合和政策有效性的政策相关建议。