Policy interventions-intervening in people's lives Flashcards
What is the definition of intervention?
“the action of becoming intentionally involved in a difficult situation, in order to improve it or prevent it from getting worse” Cambridge
What do those in power assume in terms of policy?
• Assume we have the legitimacy, the right, (the ability?) and resources to:
- make policy interventions
- implement interventions
What do interventions assume about people?
- Are mostly free to act as they want,
- Sometimes do not have the knowledge or structures to make good decisions,
- Can be willing to changing their behaviour
What do policy interventions imply?
A claim or warrant about what can be expected to happen if a particular action is taken (Dunn, 1981).
When intervening what questions should be considered? ‘Ws’
- Why intervene? (what’s the problem)
- Who is targeted?
- What is the nature of the intervention?
- What is the proposed outcome? (the solution)
- What barriers might there be?
Why take precautions?
Because “there is some evidence of a serious threat to health, safety or the environment.” (Nuffield Foundation)
What should be considered when taking precautions?
(a) scientific assessment of risk, acknowledging uncertainties, updated with new evidence;
(b) fairness and consistency;
(c) consideration of costs and benefits of actions;
(d) transparency
(e) proportionality
What questions should be considered to see if a policy is proportional?
- Are public health goals sufficiently important to warrant particular laws, policies or interventions?
- How likely is the intervention is to achieve goals?
- Is the action chosen the least intrusive and costly whilst still achieving the aims?
What are the stages of the traditional intervention ladder?
- Eliminate choice
- Restrict choice
- Guide choice through disincentives
- Guide choice through incentives
- Guide choice through changing the default policy
- Enable choice
- Provide information
- Do nothing
Explain the traditional intervention ladder?
.
How do the interventions change as you move down the intervention ladder?
Interventions move from least to the most coercive/intrusive measures
Outline eliminate choice
Heavy regulation
Outline restrict choice
Eg: Limit the number of car parks available at a facility
Outline ‘Guide choice through disincentives’
To influence people not to pursue certain activities.
Outline ‘Guide choice through incentives ‘
Regulations which induce socially desired behaviour (through specific benefits):
e.g. financial benefits
Outline ‘Guide choice through changing the default policy ‘
Altering policy hoping to contribute to behaviour change
Outline ‘Enable choice ‘
Empowering individuals with better facilities, more opportunities
Outline ‘Provide information ‘
Using education to encourage change
Outline ‘Do nothing’
• Belief that it is best not to act (not necessarily a bad option) • Or do not act because of -a lack of resources, -other priorities, -a perceived inability to act
How should you look at to determine the advantages of each intervention?
- Useful?
- Easy to apply?
- History of success?
How should you look at to determine the disadvantages of each intervention?
- Consider precautions and proportions
- Too overbearing? Too oppressive?
- Too weak? Easy to ignore?
- Too costly? (for different stakeholders)
- History of limited success?
Explain the swiss cheese model in regards to policy intervention?
.
Does intervening work?
- Policy problems are often complex.
- There is a range of tools available to intervene.
- Simply intervening does not guarantee successful change. Indeed, policies often fail.
- Understanding more about the dynamics of a complex situation might lead to better results.
