Week 1- Course Introduction

Question 1

Define polis

Answer 1

City or state

Question 2

Define policy

Answer 2

course of action taken by national, state or local governments

Question 3

Define business

Answer 3

A private company’s operating procedures

Question 4

Define public policy

Answer 4

A course of action taken by a government to shape the world around it

Question 5

List the 3 core elements of public policy

Answer 5

1. The role played by the government
2. An instrument effecting action- means
3. A result (intended or unintended)- ends purpose)

Question 6

Define strategic policy

Answer 6

• Overall policy direction in a domain
• Determining the extent of the government’s authority and action in a given policy area
• “Push the frontier”

Question 7

Define responsive policy

Answer 7

• The details of program design and implementation
• What the analysts and advisers can recommend is constrained by what they are authorised to consider
• “Make our ideas work”

Question 8

Define operational policy

Answer 8

• The putting into practice of policy by front line staff
• “Keep things running”

Question 9

How does policy arise?

Answer 9

Policy arises from behaviour as well as intention- a consistent course of action responding to particular issues results in de facto policy, even if not acknowledged as such.

Inaction indicates implicit policy of non intervention

Question 10

How is policy direction determined?

Answer 10

• Policy direction often determined by electoral mandates, coalition agreements or other political cues, with input from policy professionals
• In reality focuses on details of program design and implementation planning (responsive) than direction setting (strategic)

Question 11

What is Moore’s definition about creating public value?

Answer 11

• An account of a public enterprise, of what that enterprise does and why.
• Encourages main audience (public managers) to strengthen the policies that support their work by participating in formulating, designing and authorising policy

Question 12

Outline the policy logic underlying the ‘baby bonus’

Answer 12

• To relieve financial pressure on new parents and encourage higher fertility by giving lump-sum payments to all new parents
• Response to widespread concerns about falling birth rates and problems with a rapidly aging global population
• Decrease in young workers for the economy, increase in aged care costs
• Pros- out of pocket costs reduced, financial barriers for modest income families reduced, higher income parents considering are swayed, opportunity costs reduced, higher fertility among working class
• Cons- if assumptions are false, money is wasted

Question 13

Outline the policy logic underlying paid parental leave

Answer 13

• Pursue goal of relieving financial pressure on new parents
• Purposes include gender equity in the workplace and family increasing workforce retention, maternal and child health outcomes and income support and stability