Public Policy Chapter 6

Public policy is a combination of "public" and "policy," referring to policies concerning public affairs and the public interest.
Public policy is defined as a purposive course of action taken by actors to address a concern or problem.
Policy is the finalized, goal-oriented action taken by the government to solve a problem or achieve a specific goal, fulfilling a need under certain circumstances.
Examples include health, education, poverty, etc.

Public policy is created by governmental institutions (executive, cabinet, legislature, judiciary, and government departments).
Public policy is a crucial instrument in public administration, affecting governmental administration, management, and operation.
The executive branch is responsible for implementing public policy.

Education Policy - focuses on education services and their delivery
Health Policy - involves health and strategies for improved health services.
New Economic Policy - deals with long-term and short-term economic development plans and their implementation.
National Budget - concerns the planning of national income and expenditure.

The process of creating public policy involves political and non-political groups (NGOs), along with administrative, legal, and parliamentary components.
Each component plays a role in ensuring their interests are addressed.
Federal public service institutions, such as central agencies, ministries, and departments, actively participate in policy formulation.
The Prime Minister's Department (through the EPU) plays a significant role in dictating policy nationwide, with offices in each state.
Other ministries handle details and fill in gaps not covered by the EPU.
The Cabinet makes all major public policies for the country.

Issue: Poverty and economic disparity between rural and urban areas.
Objectives: To improve opportunities and increase income.
Strategies: Eradication of poverty among poor populations, restructuring Malaysian society.
Programmes: FELDA (Federal Land Development Authority).

National Education Policy - aims to produce knowledgeable, competent, and responsible citizens who contribute to societal harmony.
Privatization Policy - aims to reduce the financial and administrative burden on the government by promoting competition, improving efficiency, and boosting productivity in service delivery.

Achieve goals beneficial to all members of society.
Allow the public to gauge governmental achievements.
Facilitate effective governance.
Direct public resources effectively.
Enhance the visibility of democracy and achieve goals involving deliberation, consensus, and awareness.

Shapes responses in various fields (education, housing, healthcare, etc.) to public needs.
Enables achieving meaningful changes and improvements in government administration and services, leading to socioeconomic development.
Serves as a tool for identifying national concerns and implementing solutions to address those concerns, while evaluating the government's actions.
Consists of political decisions to implement programs to reach national objectives.
Aims to advance social, political, and economic well-being.

Stages include problem identification, agenda setting, policy formulation, policy implementation, and policy evaluation.
This process is also described as the policy cycle.

Crafting policy proposals through various actors (policy planning organizations, interest groups, government bureaucracies, and Congress).
The process involves developing acceptable courses of action.
Key factors for successful policy include technical soundness, reasonable costs, political acceptability, and public acceptance.

Individual (Prime Minister)
Selected Few (Cabinet, Committees, Councils) - e.g., National Economic Action Council.

Assessing policy effectiveness and efficiency by government agencies, outside consultants, the media, or the public.
Determining areas for improvement.
Evaluation examines if the policy produced its intended results.
Includes techniques like hearings, site visits, program measures and citizen complaints.