Comparing varieties of agency theory in economics, political science, and sociology: An illustration from state policy implementation

As rational choice theory has moved from economics into political science a nd sociology, it has been dramatically transformed. The intellectual diffus ion of agency theory illustrates this process. Agency theory is a general m odel of social relations involving the delegation of authority, and general ly resulting in problems of control, which has been applied to a broad rang e of substantive contexts. This paper analyzes applications of agency theor y to state policy implementation in economics, political science, and socio logy. After documenting variations in the theory across disciplinary contex ts, the strengths and weaknesses of these different varieties of agency the ory are assessed. Sociological versions of agency theory incorporating both broader microfoundations and richer models of social structure, are in man y respects the most promising. This type of agency theory illustrates the p otential of art emerging sociological version of rational choice theory.