Public Policy Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Public Policy

• 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.

Objectives

• Define public policy (PP)
• Discuss the functions of PP
• Explain the importance of PP
• Explain the PP process

What is Public Policy?

• 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.

Types of Public Policies

• 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.

Who Makes Public Policy?

• 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.

Content of Public Policy

• Issue - the concern of the government.
• Objective - the aims or goals of the policy.
• Strategies - the methods for achieving the goals.
• Programmes - the specific activities to be implemented.
• Finance - the costs involved in achieving the objectives.

Example: National Economic Policy (NEP)

• 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).

Other Examples of Public Policies in Malaysia

• 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.

Functions/Purposes of Public Policy (PP)

• 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.

Importance/Significance of Public Policy

• 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.

Public Policy Process

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

Problem/Issue Identification

• Identifying policy problems through public demands for government action.
• Public opinions often influence policy in democratic countries.
• Attention prompting government action is crucial.

Agenda Setting

• Dye (1992) emphasizes the importance of this stage in policy making.
• This is where problems are defined, and alternative solutions are put forth.
• It focuses on who decides and what will be decided.

Actors in Agenda Setting

• Elected public officials
• Bureaucracy
• Mass media
• Interest groups
• International Organizations

Policy Formulation

• 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.

Policy Makers in Malaysia

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

Policy Implementation

• Putting policies into effect after a bill becomes law.
• Involves actions to carry the law into effect.
• Applies the law to the targeted population and achieves its goals.
• Includes all activities stemming from policy adoption.

Policy Evaluation

• 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.

Explore the critical elements of public policy in this quiz based on Chapter 6. Understand the definitions, functions, and importance of public policy, along with its processes and types. This is essential for grasping how government actions address societal issues.