(S.28) Choosing Policy Instruments Flashcards
Policy instruments
The set of techniques by which governmental authorities wield their power in attempting to ensure support and effect or prevent social change
*means by which policy objectives are pursued
Policy instruments also known as
Policy tools
Policy techniques
Policy means
T or F: when there is broad agreement over policy objectives, there are often quick conclusions about the means to be used
Even when there is broad agreement over policy objectives, there are often disagreements about the means by which those objectives should be pursued
Instruments for government action set up ________ between the state and its citizens
relationships
examples of policy instruments
- Laws (e.g., prohibition of human cloning
- Taxation (e.g., when buying cigarettes * Subsidies (e.g., rate reduction for long-term care)
- Cash transfers (e.g., universal basic income)
- Education campaigns (e.g., Youtube ad)
- Vouchers (e.g., food stamps)
- Charges (e.g., emissions charges)
- Labelling (e.g., menu labelling in restaurants)
- Grants (e.g., business grants)
The “Stick”
REGULATORY instruments that OBLIGATE people to act in accordance with what the government says
Regulation
government intervention through a set of rules identifying permissible and impermissible activity on the part of individuals, firms, or government departments and agencies, along with accompanying sanctions and rewards
The “carrot”
ECONOMIC instruments used as incentives or disincentives to guide individuals in the direction of the objectives of policy
Carrot or stick: “…the handing out or the taking away of material resources [where] the addressees are not obligated to take the measures involved.”
carrot (economic)
carrot or stick: People can avoid constraints imposed by these instruments
carrot
carrot or stick: Imposes the most constraint among policy instruments
stick (regulation)
carrot or stick:
T or F: A statute or regulation should be chosen only after the full range of possible instruments has been considered
T
Policy instrument examples = stick
- Legislation (i.e., laws)
- Regulations (defining the application and enforcement of legislation)
- prohibiting human cloning (max), medical marijuana legalization (min)
Policy instrument examples = carrot
- Subsidies (conditional transfers of funds from governments to individuals, etc.)
- Taxes
- Customs duties
- Grants
- Vouchers
*tax on cigarettes (max, disincentive), nicotine therapy products exempt from tax (min, incentive)
The ‘sermon’
INFORMATION dissemination (a.k.a. moral suasion, exhortation)
*attempts at influencing people through the transfer of knowledge, the communication of reasoned argument, and persuasion
**Note: Information AS a policy instrument versus information ON a policy instrument
carrot, stick or sermon: Includes the transmission of knowledge as well as judgments about which phenomena are good or bad, how citizens should behave, etc.
sermon
which imposes the least constraint among policy instruments, carrot, stick or sermon?
sermon
* No obligatory directives or provision of material resources
sermon policy instrument examples
○ Advertisements (television, online, billboards, etc.)
○ Product labelling
*pregnant women avoiding travel to zika (max, negative don’t do), flu shot promotion posters (min, affirmative, do)
the stick:
1. instrument type
2. how is behaviour influenced
3. who decides
4. degree of constraint of behaviour intended
- regulation
- threat of sanction, penalties
- government
- high
the carrot:
1. instrument type
2. how is behaviour influenced
3. who decides
4. degree of constraint of behaviour intended
- economic means
- costs associated w/behaviours
- market & individuals
- only to those choosing to engage w/products and services
the sermon:
1. instrument type
2. how is behaviour influenced
3. who decides
4. degree of constraint of behaviour intended
- information
- provision of information & moral suasion
- individuals
- none
Nudge
any aspect of the choice architecture that alters people’s behaviour in a predictable way without forbidding any options or significantly changing their economic incentives
Policy instruments almost always come in 1 of 2 packages to best achieve policy objectives
- Vertical packaging: one instrument is directed at the implementation of another
*Horizontal packaging: two or more instruments are directed at the same target
Qs to consider when Choosing the ‘right’ instrument(s)
- Which policy instrument is the best/most likely to achieve policy objectives?
- What is the relationship between the instrument and the policy objective(s): has the relationship been specified?
- Why do policymakers believe the instrument will be able to solve or reduce the policy problem?
- What are the past experiences of addressing similar policy problems?
- What are the past experiences of implementing this type of instrument?
3 criteria of choosing the right instrument
- Effectiveness: the likelihood of the policy instrument achieving the policy objective(s) – includes feasibility, cost, timeline, etc.
- Legality: the degree to which the policy instrument adheres to relevant legal rules
- Legitimacy: the degree of support/acceptance a government has for its choices, based upon correspondence with public’s views, values, feelings, objectives
Choice of policy instruments is mediated by historical, political, social, and legal ________;
contexts
- policy-makers’ preferences
- governments’ ideological leaning
- the nature of issues
T or F: Each policy instrument has a policy context in which it occupies a predominant position relative to other instruments
T: E.g., health and safety: evidence suggests governments feel compelled to intervene, and that regulatory instruments usually have a head start in terms of being prioritized—an area of ‘no compromise and strong action’
