Policy, theory and pragmatism: implementing the UK's energy efficiency best practice programme

The concept of a gap between policy and impact - mainly conceived of as deficit between intended and actual effects - is a major theme in policy studies and public administration. While evaluation researchers have reflected on the relevance of causal theories to policy, political scientists have devoted diminishing attention to it, particularly as implementation studies shift their focus from government to governance. This case study analysis focuses on the role of gaps between causal theories used by policy makers and those influencing policy, revealing the important problematic for policy and programme implementation of the relationship of causal theories to policy.