Public Policy types & Levels Flashcards
1.6 CONCEPTUALISING PUBLIC POLICY - WURCS AGIC
Thomas Dye (1976) famously defined public policy as “WHAT governments do, why they do it, and what difference it makes”
There is no UNIVERSALLY accepted definition for public policy but
refers to government’s RESPONSE to societal issues through structured action plans.
can be categorized based on CONTENT and its effect when implemented
Another perspective views Public policy as SHAPED by societal values , political decision and economic constraints to address societal problems
is an AUTHORITY driven process as it includes actions backed by legal powers
Public Policy is GOAL oriented as it aims to achieve specific results
cannot be executed in ISOLATION as it requires coordination among various governmental departments
Public Policy is a CONTINUOUS process as it involves Adjustments to better address the issue
1.6.1 Limits to public policy - DECAMP
DEFINITIONAL challenges in issues like poverty and inequality stem from the fact that these concepts are often measured in relative terms. When something is defined relatively, it depends on a comparison to a standard or another group
Poverty can be measured relatively, such as people earning below 50% of the median income in a society. Even if overall incomes rise, people at the lower end of the income spectrum might still be considered “poor” if they earn significantly less than the median income.
EXPECTATION Gaps: Public expectations often exceed what government can feasibly deliver, which can lead to dissatisfaction with policy outcomes.
COST of Solutions: Some problems may be too costly to address fully through policy interventions, making the solutions unfeasible from an economic standpoint.
ADAPTIVE Responses: Citizens often adapt to policy regulations in unintended ways, potentially reducing policy effectiveness.
E.g Criminal laws, for instance, can lead to creative methods of circumventing the law, complicating enforcement.
MULTIFACETED Causes: Societal issues often have multiple causes, making single-policy solutions ineffective.
E.g Addressing complex issues such as unemployment or environmental degradation requires a comprehensive and multi-layered approach that is beyond the scope of individual policies.
POLITICAL Constraints: Factors such as group interests, elite preferences, and political pragmatism play significant roles in determining policy directions.
1.6.2 Policy-making cycle IICDD CADE IAEF
IDENTIFICATION of Policy Issues:
The process begins with identifying an ISSUE requiring governmental intervention. At this stage, policymakers and stakeholders assess the problem’s significance, scope, and potential impact on society, setting the stage for a structured policy response.
CONSULTATION: .
This phase is crucial for incorporating DIVERSE perspectives from relevant stakeholders and gaining public buy-in, which improves the legitimacy and efficacy of policy decisions.
Transition (DRAFTING): In this phase, the preliminary framework of the policy is drafted.
Policymakers create a DOCUMENT that outlines the policy objectives, target performance measures, and a cost-benefit analysis of various options. The drafting phase allows policymakers to refine their approach, using data and evidence to support their recommendations.
COORDINATION:
Coordination helps ALIGN the policy with broader government priorities,
Ensures policy consistency with existing strategies and goals across governmental departments and agencies is essential
DECISION Making: involves EXECUTIVE approval to formalize the policy . It ensures that the policy aligns with strategic goals and assigns resources and responsibilities for its implementation, establishing accountability structures.
IMPLEMENTATION :
The implementation phase involves putting the policy into ACTION . This stage requires a detailed plan for operationalizing the policy, including the deployment of resources, timelines, and monitoring mechanisms to track progress.
EVALUATOIN and Feedback: Finally, policies undergo evaluation to assess their effectiveness, identify any shortcomings, and make necessary adjustments.
FEEDBACK is critical for refining the policy and adapting it to changing societal needs.
1.7 TYPES AND LEVELS OF PUBLIC POLICY
1.7.1 Policy types - CRRD
Constituent policies
Constituent policies define the formation and structure of various governmental bodies and their relationships.
For example, a constituent policy may establish the roles of different branches of government (executive, legislative, judicial) and outline how these branches work together to make, implement, and interpret laws.
Redistributive Policies:
Aimed at addressing socio-economic imbalances, redistributive policies intentionally shift resources from one group to another. Graduated taxation and social welfare grants for the poor or disabled fall under this category, as they are designed to reduce inequality and promote social justice
Regulatory Policies:
These policies impose restrictions on the actions of individuals and groups, guiding or prohibiting behaviours. They set rules for acceptable conduct in areas like environmental protection or professional licensing. Regulatory policies can either apply universally (e.g., tax compliance) or to specific groups (e.g., professional standards for doctors
Distributive Policies:
These policies allocate goods and services to specific societal groups without direct competition among them. Examples include free public education and social welfare programs. These policies often serve to equalise access to basic services.
1.7.2 Policy levels - PIEPATODGI
Public policies can also be examined through various levels within the public sector
POLITICAL Level:
reflects IDEOLOGIES and goals of political parties as they propose their policies
For instance, in South Africa, the ruling party’s policies on economic redistribution or public welfare are debated within the party structure before being transformed into formal government policies upon election(2024 Internal Handbook …).
EXECUTIVE Implementation Level:
POLITICAL office-bearers, such as ministers are responsible for making decisions that guide the implementation of these policies.
This includes delegating roles to specific government departments and determining the best strategies for execution.
ADMINISTRATIVE Implementation Level:
public officials focus on the TECHNICAL and logistical aspects of implementing policies.
They decide how and when to roll out services or allocate resources across different regions or sectors(2024 Internal Handbook …).
OPERATIONAL Level:
Operational staff and supervisors make DECISIONS about the delivery of services, such as how social grants are distributed or how public services are delivered to the community.
This is where the policy gets executed on the ground
GEOGRAPHICAL level
Policies are made for and implemented in particular geographic areas on international, national, state/provincial, regional, district, and local community level.
Examples are Provincial Growth and Development Strategies for each of the provinces and local authorities’ INTEGRATED Development Plans (IDPs) for each province
1.8 POLICY-MAKING STAGES AND PROCESSES IN MUNICIPALITIES (learner outcomes ? )
