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midterm review Flashcards

1
Q

what is public policy?

A
  • conscious choices leading to action/inaction to address problems
  • “anything the government chooses to do or not to do”
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2
Q

what does public policy provide?

A

a framework

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3
Q

what does public policy reflect?

A

the values of society

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4
Q

why is context important in public policy?

A
  • you can’t define a problem unless you understand it
  • context influences how policy is made
  • context sets boundaries
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5
Q

what is the idealized policy process?

A

Problem Identification –> Policy formulation –> Policy adoption –> policy implementation –> policy evaluation –>

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6
Q

why do some subjects rise on the agenda while others are neglected?

A
  • ideology of the governing party
  • media attention/public perception
  • complexity of the problem (wicked v. tame)
  • political/social norms
  • division of power
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7
Q

what is Kingdon’s framework on agenda setting?

A

the level of importance an item has on the agenda is due to 4 factors: indicators, focusing events, feedback and national mood

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8
Q

what is an indicator?

A

too big of an issue for the government to ignore

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9
Q

what is a focusing event?

A

an event that draws attention/changes perceptions on issues (ex. war, disaster, BLM, 9/11)

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10
Q

what is agenda setting?

A

the process by which problems receive attention from the government

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11
Q

what is problem definition?

A

how people think about problems and understand the scope of the issue

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12
Q

what is framing?

A

how policy issues and information are communicated to create shared understandings

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13
Q

what aspects must a successful frame have?

A
  • effectively and clearly diagnose a problem
  • identify solutions
  • motivate action
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14
Q

what is evidence-based policy-making?

A
  • recommendations are rooted in non-biased and well researched evidence
  • decisions makers must trust and listen to evidence
  • relevant information must be accessible and digestible to decision makers and analysts
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15
Q

what are the 3 steps of policy adoption?

A
  • decision-making
  • legitimization
  • seeking consent and support
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16
Q

what is implementation?

A

putting a new policy into effect

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17
Q

what are internal variables of implementation?

A
  • attitudes/beliefs of administrators
  • collaboration issues (civil society, NGO’s, government deparments)
  • implementation deficits
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18
Q

what are external variables of implementation?

A
  • stakeholder response
  • interactions in the “real world”
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19
Q

what is an implementation deficit?

A

a gap between the resources required to implement policy and the resources are actually available/supplied

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20
Q

what is the ultimate stage of the policy process?

A

evaluation

21
Q

why is policy evaluation difficult?

A
  • different standards/expectations among demographics, ideologies, political parties, etc
  • time consuming
  • difficult to know when to evaluate (short v. long term effects)
  • bias/adjusted results
  • how to confirm it is the new policy causing the impacts, not external factors
22
Q

why do policies fail?

A
  • incorrect problem definition
  • lack of resources
  • implementation failures
  • lack of communication
  • lack of cooperation at street-level bureaucracy
  • incorrect foresight analysis
  • attempt to address a wicked problem
  • failure to effectively learn
23
Q

what is public policy analysis?

A

making evidence-based recommendations to solve problems

24
Q

what is the difference between policy studies v. policy analysis?

A

policy studies = the analysis of policy

v.

policy analysis = analysis for policy

25
what are the core elements of policy analysis?
- part of policymaking - generates information to support decisions - critically asses and communicate useful information - comparison of alternative options - multidisciplinary and may be co-produced - should show that some solutions are superior - fosters rational discourse
26
what is rationalism?
policy should be logical and based on evidence rather than emotional/religious beliefs
27
what is the rational model of policy analysis?
Define problem --> identify options --> specify objectives --> evaluation criteria --> outcomes and trade-offs --> recommendation
28
what is Bardach's eightfold path to policy analysis?
Define the problem --> assemble evidence --> construct alternatives --> select the criteria --> project the outcomes --> confront the trade-offs --> stop, focus, narrow, deepen, decide --> tell your story
29
what is required to conduct policy analyses?
- understanding of the problem/its context - access to experts and research/data
30
what is policy analytical capacity?
the ability of individuals in relevant positions to produce valuable research/analysis on topics
31
what do policy analysts do?
- research and analysis - design and recommend - clarify values and arguments - advise strategically - democratize: pursue the ethical objective - mediate: fostering cooperation
32
what are essential skills for a policy analyst?
- research (quantitative/qualitative data) - cost-benefit analysis - economics - digital skills - project/time management
33
how is policy analysis an evolving skillset?
- identify/map stakeholders - manage policy networks - incorporate multiple/conflicting perspectives - ethical/futures/implementation/political feasibility/legal analysis - negotiation
34
what is gender-based analysis plus?
an analytical process used to assess how diverse groups may experience policies/programs
35
what are critical issues of the policy analysis practice?
- political/ethical impacts - difficult to speak truth to power - balancing realism with ideal solutions - time constraints - effective collaboration - analysts rarely see the impact of their work
36
what is the policy analytical gap?
- policy analytical capacity found in many governments and NGOs is low - common use of consultants - capacity lagging behind complexity of issues
37
how can we decolonize policy analysis?
- understand historical context - recognize and address power dynamics - cultural competence training - build long-term relationships - partner and co-develop - prioritize diverse voices - encourage critical self-reflection
38
what other theories try to explain how policy is created?
- garbage can model - multiple streams theory - advocacy coalition framework - design thinking
39
what is design thinking?
- policy making is a non-linear process - each step is used to improve others
40
what is incrementalism?
- the process of policy making through a succession of incremental changes - build on past policies - comparison of small number of alternatives - focus on how consequences of alternatives differ from the status-quo
41
what is a public problem?
- a discrepancy between what is and what should be - unrealized needs, values and opportunities for improvement
42
what are tame problems?
- well defined and stable - definite stopping point - problem solvers will converge toward one correct solution
43
what are wicked problems?
- connected to/symptom of other problems - knowledge/understanding of the problem is incomplete - socially complex - often require behavioural changes - not right or wrong solutions, but better or worse - interventions will influence related problems/lead to new issues
44
what is the goal of problem definition?
to serve as an anchor for analysis
45
what makes a good problem statement?
- concise and digestible - avoid jargon/wordiness - avoid easy causation - don't accept client's definition - don't define too broadly/narrowly - don't be vague/prescriptive
46
what is the goal if identifying alternative policy options
to develop a portfolio of options that would address problems in distinctive ways
47
what are standard modes of government intervention?
- taxation - grants and subsidies - criminalization/decriminalization - regulation - education and information - bureaucratic and political reform
48
what are nudges?
- a way of steering people in decisions/actions that would benefit them if they had given the matter considered deliberate thought instead of automatic reasoning - changing the way choices are presented - usually aimed at individual level

public policy analysis (2 decks)

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