Applying the Multiple Streams Approach to the urban policy process: Social policy innovation in New York City

Source abstract

This paper examines the Multiple Stream Approach (MSA) within the urban context through a comparative case study of three social policy innovations in New York City: universal pre-kindergarten, NYC Care, and the expansion of “home visiting” programs. While MSA is traditionally used to analyze national policy, we argue that it requires modification to accurately capture urban dynamics. Our research identifies three critical characteristics of urban policymaking: a centralized and dense network of local policy communities, executive dominance within a “strong mayor” structure, and an agenda heavily influenced by federalism. We find that urban policy streams are not independent but are deeply intertwined with state and federal actions. We categorize these intergovernmental interactions as “constraining,” “enabling,” or “competitive” federalism, depending on whether higher levels of government limit, support, or conflict with local initiatives. Finally, we suggest a reformulated “federalized” MSA that incorporates multiple levels of government and highlights the role of policy entrepreneurs in navigating these complex, multi-level environments to achieve social policy innovation.