How does policy funding context matter to networks? Resource dependence, advocacy mobilization, and network structures

This study explores how policy funding context-defined as whether funding for a social service policy domain is discretionary or mandated-affects network structures in social service domains. We present comparative findings from two social service policy networks which differ with respect to funding context: A 47-actor adult basic education policy network that is funded discretionarily and a 40-actor mental health policy network where spending is mandated. Both are located in a US state we pseudonymed “Newstatia.” Using an exponential random graph model, we found that policy funding contexts affect how the locus of resource dependence interacts with the nature of client groups to determine the array of interest organizations engaged in the networks, which leads to differentials in network structure across these domains. We suggest that policy funding contexts are before resource dependence and client factors when explaining network structure. This opens space for reconsideration of the causal claims between policy funding contexts, resource dependence, advocacy mobilization, and network structures.