Public Policy I The Policy Making Process

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Public Policy I The Policy Making Process

• OUTLINE
• What is public policy?
• Who makes technology policy?
• Public officials
• Business
• Policy options available to a government
• Promotion of science and technology at federal
  level
• Another perspective on technology policy

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What is public policy?

• The actions taken, or not taken, by government to
  move to some condition which is perceived by
  decision-makers as being better than the existing
  condition (Carroll, 2003)

Technology policy?

• Broader in terms of who makes the policy
• Narrower in terms of the content of the policy

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Who makes technology policy?

• Public officials make policy, but
• democratic politics is merely the chaffPrior
  to politics is the underlying consensus that
  usually exists in the society among a predominant
  portion of politically active members
• (Dahl, 1956)
• Those elected to public office are functionaries,
  they adapt to information and pressures from
  these sources (Lindblom and Woodhouse)
• Many people and social forces influence policy
  outcomes

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Influences on government policy-makers
Business
Policies of other nations, municipalities, etc.
Lobby groups
Global Economics
Policy Makers
Media
Policy Analysts / Experts
Polls, focus groups, public opinion
Personal self-interest?
Other Influences? Examples?
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Business and Technology Policy

• Many technology policies are made by corporate
  executives.
• Business determines the supply of technologies
• Decide what kind of technologies are produced
• Decide how technology is produced
• Set directions for technological innovation

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Business and Technology Policy (contd)

• Business influences the demand for technologies
• Decide on the prices of products
• Influence demand through advertising
• Pay wages that allow consumers to purchase goods
  (e.g. Henry Ford)
• Influence the regulation of technology
• Strong lobby
• Fund political campaigns

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Lindblom and Woodhouse suggest that

• business executives often have strong incentives
  to act in ways that create certain classes of
  social problems when they can make a profit doing
  so. (p.8)
• Questions
• Do you agree with this statement?
• Examples?
• How does this set the agenda for government to
  react to the social problem?

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Some policy options available to a government

• Distribute Table 1

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Promotion of Science and TechnologyAt the
Federal Level

• 4 groups
• General
• Healthy
• Wealthy
• Wise
• Identify the policy shift and/or the new
  direction

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Questions

• Any overall observations and/or comments?
• Comments on the focus or the emphasis of the
  document?
• What are the values/ideologies present in the
  document?
• Statement from Auditor general
• a society that produces well-being and
  prosperity for its members can no longer treat
  innovation as an option.
• Is the strategy here focused on innovation?

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Another Perspective on Technology Policy The
conventional division of labour
Technologies thatpromote economicgrowth
Laws / standards
Mitigate adverse effects (but rarelyget to the
root ofa problem)
Increase wealth,but cause adverseimpacts
Human LifeSocietyThe Biosphere
Economy of technology is separate from the
Ecology of technology
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The Alternative Preventative technology policy

• Vanderburg suggests that a more proactive,
  integrated approach to technology development
  should be used
• Prevention approaches can be more cost effective
• Indicators of the economy are flawed
• GDP ignores undesired outputs
• An alternative Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI)

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Examples of Preventative Approaches

• German auto industry is beginning to design cars
  for the entire lifecycle
• German legislation toward packaging
• White goods industry is beginning to design for
  disassembly and reabsorption of materials

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Preventative Policy Options

• Distribute Table 3
• Shows how the conventional policy measures in
  Table 1 can be used to encourage a
  preventative strategy for technology

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Resources
Braun, E., 1980. Government policies for the
stimulation of technological innovation, working
paper WP-80-10, IIASA, Laxenburg,
January.   Lindblom, C. E. and E. J. Woodhouse.
The Challenges Facing Policy Making. (on reserve
at Mills)   Lindblom, C. E. and E. J. Woodhouse.
Making the most of analysis. (on reserve at
Mills)   Howlett, M. 2002. Chapter 10 - Policy
Development. In The Handbook of Canadian Public
Administration. C. Dunn (ed.). Oxford
University Press Don Mills, ON.   NABST, 1995.
Healthy, Wealthy and Wise A Framework for an
Integrated Federal Science and Technology
Strategy. National Advisory Board on Science and
Technology. June 6.   Vanderburg, W. 2000. The
Labyrinth of Technology. Toronto University of
Toronto Press. (on reserve at Thode)