Module 1 - Policy Analysis

Question 1

What is Public Policy?

Answer 1

Public Policy is compromised of the actions (and inactions) taken by government to address societal issues and achieve specific goals.

Per Dye 1976 - “what governments do, why they do it and what different it makes”

Question 2

Per Guy Peters, what are the three levels of public policy?

Answer 2

• Policy choices (decisions by those in power)
• Policy outputs (putting choices to action)
• Policy impacts (the tangible effects of choices and outputs)

Question 3

What are the instruments of Public Policy?

Answer 3

-Government spending (investment and current).
-Taxation (to fund spending and shape behaviour, eg sin-tax)
-Regulation

Question 4

Who are some other actors in the policy process?

Answer 4

The Legislative and Judiciary branches of government. (They contribute to policy formation but not proactively)

Interest groups that argue for policy changes (business, labour unions etc)

Citizen groups (political pressure)

Question 5

Explain the Stages Model.

Answer 5

The stages model or policy cycle is a framework that simplifies the policy process into three key stages and two smaller ones. In practice the stages were blurred but the model serves as an aid for understanding the process.

1- Agenda setting
2- Policy formation and legitimation
3- Policy implementation and evaluation.

Question 6

Explain the first stage of the stages model.

Answer 6

The first stage of the stages model Agenda setting. Stage 1 is triggered by a social phenomenon being recognized as a public problem.
From here the issue is debated in the media and politics.

Question 7

Explain the 2nd stage of the stages model.

Answer 7

The 2nd stage of the stages model is Policy formulation. Here the pros and cons (costs and benefits) of a particular course of action are discussed by key actors (politicians, experts, state officials etc). The state or resources is considered. Policy choices must be explained and qualified to all groups potentially impacted.

Question 8

Explain the third stage of the stages model.

Answer 8

The third stage of the stages model is Policy implementation.
This entails putting a public policy into effect. Policy intention and reality always diverge. Actors entrusted with implementation are usually public servants (teachers, officials, nurses, police officers, bureaucrats etc).

Following implementation, the effects are analysed and the cycle continues as new problems arise.

Question 9

What is policy analysis?

Answer 9

Analytical techniques to influence policy making with regard to a particular policy issue. This is something that actors do which can be learned and applied by people in the public, private and voluntary sectors. Process generally undertaken by governments, consultants, large companies. Comprised of forward thinking and backward looking aspects.

Question 10

What is situation analysis?

Answer 10

This is a part of policy analysis and refers to attempts to answer the question at hand. Gathering basic descriptive data is vital to this stage.

Eg, who is most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS in SA and why?

What are the key factors driving SA’s HIV epidemic?

Question 11

What is response analysis?

Answer 11

Response analysis forms a part of the policy analysis process. It analyses previous interventions by the government, private and public sectors around an issue. Investigates the extent to which these responses accomplished their goals. What doesn’t work and needs time be cut? What hasn’t been addressed?

Question 12

Explain the second half and forward looking part of Policy Analysis.

Answer 12

Strategic planning. Now that previous attempts have been analysed and the situation at hand is familiar, a plan is set out for how to arrive at specific goals. The plan needs to detail potential opposition to itself, as well as the timeframe in which it is to achieve its goals.

Question 13

Explain the final part of the policy analysis process.

Answer 13

Resource mobilisation.
Are objectives feasible, realistic and affordable? Are the necessary financial and human resources needed to achieve the goal? If not plan revision is needed.

Question 14

What is planning?

Answer 14

Planning entails the formulation of steps to achieve achieve a desired future state of affairs. Planning requires backward looking policy analysis, situation and response analysis as well.

Question 15

Name and explain some forms of planning.

Answer 15

Economic planning - often contrasted with “free market” economics.

Investment planning - developmental states provide an environment in which private economic activity can grow.

Indicative planning - guidance by state.

Soviet central planning - all activities planned from the centre.

Sectoral plans - strategic plans of government departments, eg education, health, transport, environment.

Question 16

What is national development planning?

Answer 16

National development planning is comprised of the Grand national plans that include all key sectors.

SA’s NDP was conceived in mid-2000s, Zuma appoints the National Planning Commission in May 2010, 26 commissioners. They came up with a diagnostic report with 9 key challenges.

Question 17

What is often the root of inaction from Government?

Answer 17

Lack of adequate financial resources.

Question 18

Explain the government’s budget.

Answer 18

The budget is a financial plan for the government. It covers the medium term ( +/- 3 years). The budget speech serves as an update on the economy, the public finances. Follows SONA.

Question 19

Explain the expenditure side of the budget.

Answer 19

The budget is drafted in April

Expenditure estimates around May/June

Cabinet priorities finalised in July

Ministers’ Committee discuss the budget in August/September

October/November bills, approved cabinet.

Question 20

Where does the money for government spending come from?

Answer 20

Taxes, loans from banks and international institutions, Bond sales.

Question 21

Is the Executive (the Presidency, cabinet etc) all powerful in the policy making process?

Answer 21

The Stages Model suggest so but in reality, the legislative branch and political parties / interest groups influence policy decisions (and non-decisions) as well

Question 22

How can Policy makers be rational in deciding what resources go where?

Answer 22

• Consider all policy alternatives
• Identify your reasons for choosing one policy option over another, using evidence and reliable theories.
• Monitor and review implementation/impact systematically.

-Replace a policy when a more desirable policy is identified

Question 23

Are policy makers consistently rational?

Answer 23

No. They are not. They often act incrementally as opposed to following the flow of process and the nature of trying to get multiple actors to work together is a recipe for confusion, chaos, free-riding and general stagnation.

Question 24

What is a downside to the stages model, regarding implementation in particular.

Answer 24

The stages model severely undervalues the implementation aspect of the policy process. Street level bureaucrats directly shape policy outcomes, if they are not partisan to the ideas coming down from the executive, they may be inclined to act in a way that does not follow the policy mandate, thus creating more issues and leaving the original unsolved.

Question 25

Name a limit of the Stages Model.

Answer 25

The stages model does not consider financial constraints or the problems associated with various revenue sources (ie a random tax increase).

Question 26

What are the three key institutions of SA?

Answer 26

Treasury, Cabinet and presidency.

Question 27

Describe how one might argue the case for federalism.

Answer 27

Poverty is often caused by the powerlessness of ordinary citizens to influence their lives. There needs to be smaller scales of accountability.

Decentralised provision is more efficient so long as no major inter-jurisdictional spill-overs or economies of scale from national provision.

Question 28

Describe some arguments for federalism.

Answer 28

Poverty is often caused but the powerlessness of ordinary citizens to influence their lives, there needs to be smaller scales of accountability.

Allocative efficiency. Decentralised provision is more important so long as no major inter-jurisdictional spill-overs or economies of scale from national provision.

Question 29

Describe some arguments for a unitary state.

Answer 29

South Africa is extremely unequal, wealth redistribution requires a single tax base (collection must be centralized)

South Africa has had a historically tempestuous ethnic scene, thus federally attaching these bodies to machines in government would not be a good idea.

Question 30

Name some national sphere functions.

Answer 30

They include IR, foreign policy, external relations, economic management, security and policing as well as redistribution and social welfare programs.

Question 31

List some functions of local government.

Answer 31

Water and waste sanitation services (where capable).

Waste removal, electricity reticulation (with Eskom)

Planning and housing (where empowered)

Local economic development.

Traffic, roads, deadass everything.

Question 32

Summarise the policy system.

Answer 32

Which national government makes most policies and raises most revenue centrally in the policy process as a role for the national parliament and judiciary of very limited role for provincial legislature when it comes to the implementation stage? All three spheres are involved although two different degrees depending on the relevant policy activity or sector Typically all three spheres will be involved in the policy and it may well be that other actors including state and enterprises private sector actors will also be involved so need to ensure coordination not just between national government departments but also coordination between national provincial and local spheres of government in order to get any policy to work in practice and to produce the intended outcomes

Question 33

Explain the prevalence of non-decision making.

Answer 33

Most potential issues never really materialise into actual issues. There is a concensus amongst the elite that some things do not matter.
“The market” can often be left to solve the problems.

Question 34

Explain the case study of Gary Indiana.

Answer 34

It’s the 1970s and Gary has very high air pollution due to their economy being built on steel.

They experienced a spiral of decline post 1960/70 and saw the loss of two thirds of their population.

Low life expectancy, low QOL, childhood diseases etc with little action to address the air quality issues.