Multidimensional Deconstruction of Policy Tools: A Quantitative Assessment Framework Based on Frequency, Effectiveness, and Positional

Policy tools serve as the primary instruments through which governments achieve governance objectives, directly shaping the effectiveness and impact of public policy implementation. Existing studies lack a systematic, multidimensional analysis of policy tools, limiting the ability of single-dimensional studies to capture their complexity and diversity. To address this gap, this study proposes a policy tool attention index constructed through a three-dimensional analytical framework of frequency, effectiveness, and positional. This framework enables a quantitative assessment of the attention characteristics of policy tools across multiple dimensions. Findings reveal that supply-oriented and environmental policy tools dominate China's scientific and technological innovation policies, reflecting a governmental preference for fostering innovation through direct resource allocation and environmental optimization. In contrast, demand-oriented policy tools and international governance tools receive comparatively less attention. To enhance the overall efficacy of the innovation system, future policies should pursue a more balanced configuration of policy tools, emphasizing strengthened market demand-driven mechanisms and enhanced international cooperation.