📢 New paper! "The effects of policy dismantling on the policy-making process” @policy_politics 🔗 https://t.co/3F2w2gzdjo We examine how local govermnts responded to the dismantling of the federal childcare program, highlighting multilevel governance & policy feedback dynamics.
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🧵2/ @Veronica_lg_ and I studied the dismantling of PEI, Mexico’s federal childcare program, which the federal government began to dismantle in 2018—replacing it with a cash transfer scheme to families. We found it didn’t just cut services—it reshaped how childcare is governed.
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🧵3/ Local governments did more than react. They launched new childcare programs—some closely replicating PEI, others adapted to local needs. Some even expanded eligibility (e.g., adolescent mothers or older children) or increased financial support.
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🧵4/ We analyzed responses in 10 opposition-led states that faced financial and administrative constraints. To compare these initiatives with PEI, we used two dimensions: 🔹 Density – Who benefits and how 🔹 Intensity – How generous and regulated the support is.
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🧵5/ Some local programs broadened access and raised transfer amounts. However, most remain small in scale—limited by infrastructure regulations and budget constraints. But the most interesting part is... 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽
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🧵6/ 🔧👩‍💼 Bureaucratic experience made a difference. Many of those designing local programs had worked in PEI. Their technical know-how made adaptation easier—showing how past policies shape what comes after dismantling.
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🧵7/ Dismantling didn’t just reduce capacity—it reframed the childcare debate. Opposition-led states tended to recreate public service models, while pro-government states leaned toward cash transfer approaches.
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🧵8/ The question is no longer whether to support childcare, but how—and by whom. Dismantling reshaped policymaking: it reactivated local capacities, reframed public debate, and deepened tensions over provision models (services vs. transfers).
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