Casting Doubts on the Growth Machine? Doughnut Economics, an Ambiguous Innovation in Amsterdam Governance

The institutional uptake of Doughnut Economics in Amsterdam in 2020 marks a notable departure from growth-centred governance. Drawing on qualitative research, this paper mobilises the Instrument Constituency and Multiple Streams frameworks to trace the policy process behind the Amsterdam City Doughnut. It shows how an ambiguous and supply-driven policy innovation gained traction through coalition-building and strategic coupling of policy, problem, and political streams. While non-binding, the ACD's adoption politicised growth as a collective goal, signalling a subtle yet significant shift in urban governance, and casting doubts on the enduring validity of the urban growth machine thesis.