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Public Policy Analysis

Public Policy Analysis

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shahsakibsadmanpranto1873
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4 views

Public Policy Analysis

Public Policy Analysis

Uploaded by

shahsakibsadmanpranto1873
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Problem & the Solution

“a problem well formulated is a problem half solved”

Defining the Policy Problem is easier said than


done…..
Problem Definition
• Often difficult to define a problem
• What is a current problem?
• Why is it a problem?
• Definition is based on your own
perspective
• Who’s involved?

2
Not all Public Problems are amenable to policy
analysis, but the analysis can support decision
making to:

• Determine whether a new policy is required to


address the problem
• If a policy already exists, determine whether it needs
to be modified or terminated
• Analyze one policy (retrospectively or prospectively)
• Compare two or more policies that address a similar
problem
• Assess future implications of current or new policies
• Explore stages in the development of particular
policies
We want to learn how to look at
problems from multiple
perspectives to achieve the best
problem definition and possible
/ feasible solutions
Example:
Increasing rates of lung cancer among certain population groups
could be framed as:

• The failure of individuals to stop smoking, or


• Failure of the health care providers to provide
adequate / timely information, or
• Failure of the Government to regulate
smoking in public places, or
• Failure on the part of Government to take the
opportunity to improve research, to raise
taxes by increasing the price of cigarettes
• All of the above
Increasing obesity among youngsters and among certain
population groups could be framed as:

• The failure of parents or individual will to


change their eating behaviors, or
• The inability of health care providers to
provide adequate and timely information, or
• Failure of the government to:
Regulate health care dept.
Eliminate harmful substances from the
general diet
Build more places for people to exercise
• All of the above
Problem Definition
“There is a difference between a condition and a
problem…conditions become defined as problems when we
come to believe that we should do something about them…the
problem doesn’t have to get any worse or better”.
Kingdon, 1984
Problem Definition in Decision Making

• Problem definition depends on:


How issues are framed, portrayed
How obvious is the crisis that the
problem evokes
How it is measured
• Endless ways to look at a particular problem,
yet limited time, money and energy.
• Hence, highly complex issues are simplified;
focus on certain aspects happens at the
expense of other aspects / elements
Challenges of Public Policy problems (Social
problems)

• May show up in ways that are difficult to address


• “Inherently multidimensional”, overlap &
contradict
• Are ill defined, so “wicked problems”
• The consensus over social goals may be illusory
• Decision-makers have different preferences and
values, often conflicting
• The definition of a policy problem is not
completely scientific or systematic: creativity,
sagacity, socially constructed
Situation that can be perceived as important into a
problem

• Indicators reveal its existence, magnitude,


severity
• Events or crisis call attention on a problem
• The results of evaluations (or
monitoring/surveillance) show
Problem Tree
A problem tree
allows us to analyse:

• the causes (roots) of a


problem

•the core problem

• and its effects


(branches)

tykAmal
For example, imagine
we have the problem
that Kirsty is always
late for work…
Creates bad EFFECTS
Work is not impression Colleagues feel
completed to partners annoyed

Kirsty is late for


PROBLEM
work

Kirsty is Kirsty is de-


tired motivated

Kirsty is
Funding Training
staying up at Kirsty’s cat
application workshop
night surfing was run over CAUSES
turned down went badly
the internet

Poor Wrong
UK government facilitator participants
Kirsty is
spending cuts selected invited
planning a
holiday to
Barbados
Uninformed Frustrated Uninformed EFFECTS
public scientists policies

Bad Media coverage


PROBLEM

Poorly trained Media Lack access to


journalists Agenda scientists
CAUSES

No specialised science
Science not Scientists don't
communication courses
valued trust journalists,

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