本辑专刊与皮尔·莱格雷德(Per Laegreid)教授主持的国际研究项目“福利体制改革:民主、问责和管理”有关。该项目旨在考察三个国家在福利体制的三个方面的改革是如何影响问责关系的。本辑专刊收录的文章是一个研讨会发言稿的修改版,这个专题讨论会于2011年12月在牛津大学圣安东尼学院的欧洲研究中心举办,由保拉·马太(Paola Mattei)博士召集,主题是“问责研究:概念和方法的挑战”。 This special issue of the series relates to the international research project “Reform of the Welfare System: Democracy, Accountability and Management” chaired by Professor Per Laegreid. The project aims to examine how the reforms of the three countries in the three aspects of the welfare system affect accountability. The article featured in this monograph is a revised version of a workshop presentation delivered in December 2011 at the European Studies Center at St. Anthony’s College, Oxford University, convened by Dr. Paola Mattei, The topic is “Accountability Research: The Challenges of Concepts and Methods.”