本文主要的目的在於論述政治學中分配政策研究的發展以及目前在實證研究上所面臨的問題。本文同時分析分配理論在民主政治中所隱含的意義，並探索分配政策研究與利益團體、新公共行政等理論之關聯。最後，本文討論分配政策研究在臺灣地區應用的可行性以及相關的啓示。

This paper aims at discussing the development of distributive theory in political science. To begin with, I review prior empirical studies and formal models of distributive theory. In addition, several controversial issues in distributive studies are discussed. These issues include the uses of the unit of analysis, the integration of empirical studies and formal models, and the reconsideration of research design. Finally, the implications of distributive theory are explored in a general sense and its applications in Taiwan are also tentatively suggested.