Interactions between research and policy. From wishes to realities, in a changing world

The purpose of this paper is to make a point on the question of the links and interfaces that exist (or should exist) between research and policy in a field where these interactions are specially strong and multifaceted. Attention will be paid to what these entities have in common and where they are either different, or convergent, or divergent in their logic and dynamics, knowing that they are linked in many ways, both directly and via other systems. This discussion will be supported largely by an analysis of the mechanisms of the structural changes of economic systems through 'long term crises mechanisms in developed countries, as well as by a discussion on the roles of 'value allocation' processes in post-industrial societies. These determine essential matter of the orientation of the 'policies' particularly in decision-making for which one never knows if they are decided by some inspired personalities, or if they only arise in terms of actions, as responses to current problems. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.