TASK 8 - PUBLIC POLICY + BUREAUCRACY

consists of the ‘outputs’ of the pol process, meaning the impact of the gov on society and its ability to make things better/worse

• involves a series of linked actions or events - germination of ideas - initiation of proposals - analysis and evaluation - making formal decisions - implementation • distinguishes the ‘how’ of gov from the ‘what’ of gov - the way policy is made - contentwise

• rational actor model • incremental model • bureaucratic organization model • belief system model

-> emphasises human rationality 1. nature of problem identified 2. objective/goal is selected 3. available means of achieving objective are evaluated - effectiveness - reliability - costs 4. decision is made: what is most likely to secure the goal?

• humans are able to pursue goals rationally and consistently • utility is homogeneous • constructed on econ theories (UTILITARIANISM) • stresses the self-interest pursuit of material satisfaction

• more easily applied to individuals, not groups • decisions made on basis of inadequate and inaccurate info bounded rationality not possible to assess all possible courses of action • fail to take into account psychological, emotional, cultural and social factorsq

-> incrementalism: portrayed as the main alternative to rational decision-making • decisions made on the basis of inadequate info and low levels of understanding • policy-making as continuous process • normative and descriptive • allows for flexibility and divergent views well suited in pluralist democracies compromise

• critiziced as conservative • justifies bias against innovation • more concern for day-to-day problems no long term view • sheds little light on radical pol decisions

-> bridge btw rational and incrementalist approach decision making in 2 phases: 1. evaluation of all available policy options 2. details of selected policy are reviewed

-> highlight degree to which process influences product two contrasting models: 1. organizational process 2. bureaucratic politics

-> highlights impact on decisions of the values, assumptions and regular patterns of behavior found in any large org - reflect entrenched culture of gov making them

-> emphasizes impact on decisions of bargaining btw personnel and agencies pursuing diff interests • dismissed idea of state as monolith united around single view • decisions arise from arena of contest in which balance of advantage is const shifting

• org process allows little scope for pol leadership to be imposed from above • simplistic idea: pol actors dont hold views only based on own position and their orgs • fail to give weight to external pressures emanating from broader contexts

-> emphasis on role of beliefs and ideology. is behavior structured by perception • what ppl see and understand is what their concept allow them to • entrenched beliefs (unconscious)

-> ‘policy subsystems’: colllection of ppl who contribute to influencing policy in a particular area • politicians • civil servants • interest groups • researchers • academics… EPISTEMIC COMMUNITY

• deep core beliefs - fundamental moral/philosophical principles - resistant to change • near-core beliefs - policy preferences - more disagreement and flexibility • secondary beliefs - views abt implementation/application - more disagreement and flexibility

• policy initiation • policy formulation • policy implementation • policy evaluation

• decision to make the decision • perception that there is a problem to be solved • structures subsequent debate, and decision-making • sets pol agenda • can originate in any part of pol system above: leaders, cabinets, agencies… below: public opinion, mass media, pol parties, interest groups… academics: develop core values + theories

• process of detailed elaboration to develop systematic policy proposals • what, when, how • entails: translation of broad proposals into specific recomms + filtering out proposals • stages 1. decisions about how to decide 2. issue definition and forecasting: scope for reinterpretation 3. setting objectives/priorities 4. analysis and review of policy options • reducement of actors involved -> shaped by selective group!

• whether formulation is based on consultation or imposition • whether govs engage in long-term planning or day-to-day basis

• decisions on whether policy outcomes match policy intentions • conditions for ‘perfect’ implementation: 1. unitary adm system 2. perfect obedience/control 3. perfect info, communication, coordination 4. suff time for adm resources to be mobilized • tendency for bottom-up tradition (more street-understanding) • tendency for top-down tradition (stresses uniformity and control)

• dangers of flexibility in application • executors might also be interested in protecting their career and interests • absence of consumer pressure from below • gov often monopoly supplier

• can smth be improved? • decisions made by maintenance, succession or termination • addresses issues linked to appropriateness/effectiveness • cost-benefit analysis • not many govs fund it properly

-> main: policy implementation • execution and enforcement of laws made by legislature and policies decided by executive