introduction to governance, politics & policy, week 4: policy analysis

8/8/2019 Introduction to Governance, Politics & Policy, Week 4: Policy Analysis

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Introduction to Governance,Politics & Policy

Week 4: Introduction to Policy Analysis



Maastricht Graduate School of Governance

Announcements

Lecture recordings and slides at

http://igpp.lutzkrebs.net/




Announcements

EconometricsExam: Dec. 17, 2010

Resit: Jan. 21, 2011




Announcements

Quantitative Methods

• Math: only subjects for week 1–4

• Statistics: all content until week 7

• Quizzes:

– Math Quiz Week 5

– Stats Quiz Week 7

• Exam:

– Math questions week 5-7 will be replaced

– Minimum math score: 7 points




Announcements

Quantitative Methods

• Options:– Use extra time to focus on statistics till week 7

and potentially on repeating some math tasks?

– Use extra time to focus on statistics and add two

chapters that will be needed for Econometrics?




Announcements

Introduction to Econometrics with Stata

Week 1: Repeating QM content while introducing Stata

I.e., the content serves as an additional preparationfor the QM exam.

Do you want real lectures,or a video lecture that gives flexibility in when to

watch it?




Announcements

Volunteers for the

Education Committee?

Volunteers for theBoard of Demos?




Reminder: Questions? Problems?

• Use the courtesy phone

"• Dial 84712

• Or 043 388 47 12 from your mobile




Exam Prep: Sample Question 3

What is the role of a policy entrepreneur when it comes to “coupling”?

Describe this role with an example.




Exam Prep: Sample Question 4

A policy analysis serves to provide a balanced evaluation of a policy or policy proposal with

the goal of improving it. Discuss.




Agenda

• How policies happen…

• Policy analysis and who needs it…




Perception is key

• Perception influences the chances anidea survives

– “National mood” as a virtual entity

– “National mood” as a price tag

• Shapers of perception




Kingdon’s model

Problems

Solutions

Environment




Kingdon’s model

Problem stream

Policy stream

Political stream

Problemwindows

Political windows




The effects of windows

• Entrepreneurs / bounty hunters

– Overloading: “Bring your problems to

work” day

• Failure: too many people trying to dotoo many things

• Success: reduction or push

• Outcomes unpredictable?




Coupling

• Combinations of

– Problems and solutions

– Solutions and a good political climate

– All three

• Entrepreneurs

– Can get a hearing

– Connections or skill

– Persistence




What about content?

• We have covered:

– Processes

– Opportunities

– Sales people

• We have not actually talked about

“products”




Policy Analysis

• Equally based in science and “art, craftand persuasion”

• Extends far beyond the policy processin perspective, but addresses theprocess itself




Types of questions

• “What is the problem for which a solution issought?”

• “What course of action should be chosen to solvethe problem?”

• “What are the outcomes of choosing that course of action?”

• “Does achieving these outcomes help solve theproblem?”

• “What future outcomes can be expected if othercourses of action are chosen?” (p. 3)




Policy analysis according to Dunn

PolicyPerformance

PreferredPolicies

ExpectedPolicy

Outcomes

PolicyProblem

ObservedPolicy

Outcomes

Problem

Structuring

Problem

Structuring

Problem

Structuring

Problem

Structuring

Evaluation

Monitoring

Forecasting

Recommen-

dation




Policy analysis according to Dunn

PolicyPerformance

PreferredPolicies

ExpectedPolicy

Outcomes

PolicyProblem

ObservedPolicy

Outcomes

Problem

Structuring

Problem

Structuring

Problem

Structuring

Problem

Structuring

Evaluation

Monitoring

Forecasting

Recommen-

dation

Ex anteProblem finding

Ex anteProblem solving

Ex post Problem finding

Ex post Problem solving




Method mix

• Problem structuring

• Descriptive monitoring• Predictive forecasting

• Evaluations

• Prescriptive recommendations




Observations on policy analysis

• Policy analyses are not the last word

• They cannot be value free

• Their content is just as in important astheir source and environment




How do we relate to policy analysis?

• Commissioner

• Author• Recipient

• Bystander



Questions?

Phone 84712

introduction to governance, politics & policy, week 4: policy analysis

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