Abstract
Th e article provides a critical review of the literature on policy instruments and introduces the topic into the context of the Czech Republic. In the fi rst part, the critical review of the history of policy instruments literature is provided.
Th en various defi nitions and dimensions of instruments are discussed. Th e main part, and original contribution of the paper is provided in further parts in which: 1) two diff erent perspectives (labeled as objectivist versus constructivist) are defined and explained assumptions upon which they are based; 2) diff erent levels of instruments are discerned.
Th e article concludes with a critical summary of problems in the current literature on policy instruments and recommendations for further theoretical and empirical research.