5 Classes of Public Policy

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5 Classes of Public Policy

• Class Activity
• RESOURCE ALLOCATIVE giving, aiding, benefiting,
• subsidizing
• RESOURCE EXTRACTIVE taking, taxing, requiring
  time or service
• REGULATORY controlling behavior, setting
  standards, inspecting for
  compliance, punishing
• non-compliance
• SYMBOLIC ritualizing, moralizing, making
  promises, substituting rhetoric
  for substance
• INTERNAL ORGANIZATION organizing/managing
  governments
• AND MANAGEMENT affairs, budgeting, making
  rules with respect to internal operation

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Regulatory
Resource Allocative
Resource Extractive
Internal Organization
Control of the consequences of conduct
consequences defined in purely instrumental
terms. Orientation of the discourse is ERROR
Provide benefits, aid, or subsidies to a
particular target group. Goals defined
instrumentally. Orientation of the discourse
is UTILITY
Instrumental goals to control conduct or raise
revenue. Orientation of the discourse
is ERROR or UTILITY
Process definition of the Constitution and
rights. Orientation of the discourse is FORM
and ACCOUNTABILITY
Mainstream
Outcome definition of the Constitution and
rights. Good government is a commitment to a
substantive definition of justice. Government is
good when it is committed to the program (left)
or to good moral character (right). Orientation
of the discourse is SUBSTANCE COMMITMENT
Control of conduct as good or bad in itself
consequences defined in moral absolutes stress
on bad conduct. Orientation of the discourse
is SIN
Goals defined in terms of moral consequences,
such as improvement of character (right) or
excesses of capitalism (left). Orientation of
the discourse is CIVIC VIRTUE
Goals defined in terms of fairness (correction
for excesses of capitalism left and
preservation of property rights right).
Orientation of the discourse is ENTITLEMENT
and RIGHTS
Radical
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• ERROR
• Law Order
• Correct negative externalities
• Economic sector
• anti-trust
• natural monopolies
• patents
• Licensing to enforce standards

UTILITY Public goods (defense, highways,
etc. Subsidies (positive externalities, research
development Liberal, value-free education

• ERROR or UTILITY
• Taxation
• income
• sales
• property
• Fines - deter bad conduct
• Service

FORM ACCOUNTABILITY internal operations of
government -- neutral, scientific
decision-making reform for efficiency sake
Mainstream
SUBSTANCE COMMITMENT
ENTITLEMENT and RIGHTS
SIN
CIVIC VIRTUE
LEFT
RIGHT
LEFT
LEFT
LEFT
RIGHT
RIGHT
RIGHT
Right to results (lawsuits to force vigorous
regulation) Cost-oblivious Stick
approach Affirmative action Capitalism as morally
suspect Prohibition to promote gender/racial
equality Price ceilings/floors
Right to public order self-defense Moral
guidance Capitalism as morally good Carrot
approach Prohibition to deter morally deviant
behavior Opposition to punishment for
victimless cimes
Public ownership of essential services Displacemen
t of corporate power Planning for use of common
resources Education for socialization of liberal
values (i.e., pluralism, diversity, equity,
tolerance, etc.)
Privatization Subsidies to businesses to pursue
community interests Marketplace property
rights to determine usage of resources Education
to instill moral values
Progressive taxes exclusively Anti-wealth taxes
(estate, luxuries, etc.) Pigouvian taxes Jury
service as a duty Conscientious objectors to
military service
Regressive taxes exclusively Sin/punitive
taxes Jury service as infringing on
privacy Military service as patriotic duty
Nationalization of the Bill of Rights Broad
construction of the Constitution Increase
democratic participation Reform to diminish
influence of money in politics/make government
more responsive to ordinary citizens
States rights Framers intent Republican
government (rightly understood) Skepticism of
masses Reform to promote government minimalism
Radical