WEEK 3: THEORIES OF PUBLIC POLICY

Question 1

What are the 3 levels of policy?

Answer 1

1. micro
2. meso
3. macro

Question 2

What is the micro level of policy?

Answer 2

• routine day to day govt operations
  EXAMPLES:
• increasing funding to community health centres
• increasing housing subsidy amounts for tenants

Question 3

What is the meso level of policy?

Answer 3

• operation of mid-level institutions like advisory boards or govt departments
  EXAMPLES:
• creating a telehealth line
• changing eligibility requirements for social assistance

Question 4

What is the macro level of policy?

Answer 4

• broad issues like the general shape of political systems and how power is exercised
  EXAMPLES:
• creation of public-private partnerships
• creation of national daycare program

Question 5

What is pluralism?

Answer 5

• interest groups are the most important unit of analysis
• groups vie for power to achieve goals and objectives
• states neutrally mediate diverse social and economic interests
• assumes all groups have equal access so policy output is rational balancing of interests
• most influential theory in Western societies
• dominant understanding and approach of advocacy groups trying to influence policy

Question 6

What are the 2 models of pluralism?

Answer 6

1. Easton’s model of the political system
2. Kingdon’s policy stream convergence

Question 7

What is Easton’s model of the political system?

Answer 7

inputs –> govt –> outputs

• inputs = demands, support, resources
• outputs = goods and services

Question 8

What is Kingdon’s policy stream convergence?

Answer 8

problem –> policy proposals –> politics = policy change window

Question 9

What are critiques of pluralism?

Answer 9

• fails to consider role of political power or ideology
• offers simplistic explanations
• political process seen as consensual and conflict free
• govt parties can shut out perspectives of other groups

Question 10

What is new institutionalism?

Answer 10

• pluralism + how institutions influence
• political discourse/debate
• policy outcomes
• political institutions: state and govt structures that develop over time and persist
• formal rules of operation
• organizational structures
• standard operating procedures

Question 11

What are the 3 sub-types of new institutionalism?

Answer 11

1. historical
2. rational choice
3. sociological

Question 12

What are critiques of new institutionalism?

Answer 12

• doesn’t look at how policy develops or changes over time
• institutions constrain change so not best unit of analysis of explaining change
• minimizes degree of policy change possible
• important to examine other social, political, economic forces

Question 13

What is the political economy approach?

Answer 13

• understanding policy outcomes requires focus on economic/political/social structures, distribution of power/resources
• concerned with mode of production
• feminist political economy