Chapter 1

Question 1

public policies are essential elements because:

Answer 1

guide government officials and give citizens links to accountability

Question 2

define public policy

Answer 2

a course of action or inaction chosen by public authorities to address a given problem or set of interrelated problems
they are there to guide and be a framework to deal with problems

Question 3

what did the rationalists in the 1960’s hope?

Answer 3

that policy making would become technical enough with out advancements that values and beliefs wouldn’t matter

Question 4

most overreaching value in public policy is?

Answer 4

public interest

Question 5

define public interest

Answer 5

balance majority views, common interests within the political community and binding values.

Question 6

what is the basic motive for taxation

Answer 6

generate revenue for government

Question 7

what is a secondary usage for taxes?

Answer 7

instruments to encourage or discourage certain behavior

Question 8

what is the issue with conservatives and taxation

Answer 8

they lowered GST which is a consumption tax even though economists would argue it made more sense to lower income tax which would lower disinsentives for people to work

Question 9

who makes policy in canada

Answer 9

since the PM is the elected official at the apex of government only he or she has the right to enunciate policy
some public servants joke that policy is whatever the minister says it is

Question 10

what are three key elements to a policy

Answer 10

1. definition of the problem
2. goals to be achieved
3. instruments and means needed to address the problem and reach the goals

Question 11

describe the Problem Definition (step 1 of the policy)

Answer 11

recognized problem
can be exhaustive or casual with the most complex problems needing the most extensive and exhaustive inquiry
problems come in complex clusters
something we must adapt to can be a problem
casual connection root of the problem

Question 12

describe Goals (step 2 of the policy)

Answer 12

intermediate vs ultimate
specific vs general
policy goals vs real goals

Question 13

describe Instruments (step 3 of the policy)

Answer 13

wide menu
distinct from implementation
constrained by legitimacy, legality, and practicality

Question 14

list three types of policy consistency

Answer 14

internal - definition goals and instruments are consistent
vertical - policy is consistent with programs our outcomes from it
horizontal - policy is consistent within a framework of other policies set in place

Question 15

define Policy Analysis

Answer 15

the disciplined application of intellect to public problems

inquiry to assess and understand and improve policy

Question 16

implications of policy analysis with a basis in science

Answer 16

not anyone can do it
there can be good and bad analysis
is a specific form of inquiry

Question 17

define gender based analysis

Answer 17

differential impacts on both men and women from a policy are assessed

Question 18

define gender mainstreaming

Answer 18

more modern organizational strategy to ensure that a gender perspective is reflected in all types of organizational activities

Question 19

list and define 4 types of reasoning

Answer 19

1. normative: analyses policy in reference to values and ethical principals
2. legal: analyses policy in terms of jurisdiction and consistency with legislation or the charter
3. logical: consistency and common sense analyses
4. empirical: impacts effects costs and administration

Question 20

what are the 7 steps to the rational decision making process?

Answer 20

chose objectives
consider alternatives
outline impacts
determine criteria 
apply models and scenarios 
implement preferred option
evaluate consequences

Question 21

describe Jocelyne Bourgon

Answer 21

clerk of privy council
identified development of policy capacity as a key priority in coming years
three initiatives she propelled
1. La Releve - up sizing federal public sector
2. policy research initiative - to enhance policy capacity
3. deputy minister task force - strengthen our policy capacity - report with recommendations

Question 22

give an international example of recent policy movement

Answer 22

the organisation for economic cooperation and development (OECD) - 34 member states established in 1961
core focus on economic growth wealth creation through markets and trade
interest in governance issues
global conversations about public management
SIGMA program works with EU to strengthen policy making and public administration

Question 23

give another example of a international organization

Answer 23

the world bank founded 1944
attention to governance and public capacity
values the imput of the poor in developmental processes

Question 24

policy making and analysis have to adapt to 3 key shifts which are:

Answer 24

1. the nature of some perennial policy problems has changed - global economy issues and US in trouble
2. key policy processes have changed - citizens want more say - gov departments smaller - people have access to more via internet - municipalities have more power - globalization
3. change in how governments see their relationship with private sector and civil society - light touch not heavy handed intervention until financial crisis in 2008

Question 25

core questions in policy analysis (4)

Answer 25

what is the nature of the problem?
what are we trying to achieve?
how shall we go about addressing it?
how will we know if we were successful?

Question 26

define bounded rationality

Answer 26

invented by Herbert Simon to capture the idea that the most human decision making takes place under various constraints rather than ideal conditions of complete information and unlimited processing capabilities

Question 27

define emergent strategies

Answer 27

consistent patterns of behavior that emerge or form rather than being planned

Question 28

define incremental ism

Answer 28

decision making that proceeds by small successive comparisons rather than grand designs moving forward in small increments

Question 29

define policy capacity

Answer 29

the institutional ability to conduct policy analysis and implement its results effective and efficiently

Question 30

define satisficing

Answer 30

object in decision making to find a workable solution rather than a perfect solution