Public Policy 7-31-23.docx

Laswell’s principles of policy science Problem-solving orientation Policy analysis is problem oriented. Borrows a lot from economics Additionally, it is not possible to be impartial because everything is happening within a political process Multidisciplinary Politics matter This is similar o def...

Laswell’s principles of policy science Problem-solving orientation Policy analysis is problem oriented. Borrows a lot from economics Additionally, it is not possible to be impartial because everything is happening within a political process Multidisciplinary Politics matter This is similar o definitions of public policy To create policy, start with a goal Goals are related to outcomes. Measurable outcomes -> Things we want to achieve How do we define goals/problems How do we define malnutrition? Plenty of food but not nutritional food = malnutrition To solve problems, you must come up with mesurable goals Outcome goal/measures Make sure that no one is infected by a virus Politicians prefer this Agencies don’t because they cant control how many people are infected Outcome: Stuff we care about How well students do on the test Output goal/measures Number of inspections we want by this fiscal year Agencies prefer this because it is an achievable mesurable goal Output: Stuff we do to achieve the things we care about Number of students who take the test Number of hours taking the test Policy analysts help identify causal model of policies Correlation is not causation Rather, correlation is a tool for making decisiosns We use correlation and analyze it BEFORE setting an agenda Choose your path forward Policy analysis is heavily influenced by economic theory Idea of homoeconomicus: We make certain assumptions about other people Rational Comprehensive Approach Define problem. Identify goals in addressing problem. Consider solutions. Evaluate alternatives. Make recommendation. There are two logics of public policy decision making Economic rationality (policy analysts) Applies economic logic to political phenomena to reduce messiness Transparent assumptions Consistent methods to compare alternatives Political rationality (political actors) STRATEGIC use of information and promotion of favorable data Supression of unfavorable data Stone: rational analysis unfit for paradoxes of politics Models of public policy analysis are wrong but useful The field has changed significantly but economic qualitative methods are still very common A Cost benefit analysis is also similar All elements of a cost-benefit analysis must be operationalized in comparable units There are always costs (tradeoffs) to consider in every policy Welfare economics also serves as a tool for comparing alternatives Pareto principles A policy is good if one person is made better off and no one is worse off as a result Kaldor-Hicks compensation principle An alternative to the rational comprehensive model is Bounded rationality Lindblom theory – incrementalism We have to rely on things like rules of thumb because everything happens incrementally There is also the Garbage can Model: Decision making in organiced anarcky Similar to MSF theory Three streams: Problems, solutions, participants Precursor, in fact, to MSF Allisions Alternative models from Essence of Decision Priorities of any individual actor will be influenced by what agency they work for Organizational process bureaucratic politics Governmental politics conflict and persuation