Policy Analysis: An Introduction

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Policy Analysis An Introduction
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Outline

• Introduction
• Why do policy analysis?
• Types of policy analysis
• What kind of analysis is needed?
• Steps in the policy analysis process

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Why Do Policy Analysis?

• Need for thoughtful, impartial assessment
• Avoid shooting from the hip
• Think seriously about problems and solutions

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Steps in Policy AnalysisTable 4-1

• Define and analyze the problem
• questions may include Who is affected and how
  seriously?
• may include looking for causes
• Construct policy alternatives
• might be the most important step
• want to encourage creativity

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Steps in Policy Analysis (contd)

• Develop evaluative criteria
• effectiveness, efficiency, equity, political
  feasibility
• assess potential of different criteria
• will vary depending on the problem
• Assess policy alternatives
• ask which is likely to produce desired outcomes
• Draw conclusions
• some may advocate a single policy action, but
  others may not
• be sure of the information gathered

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Types of Policy Analysis

• Many policy studies conducted
• Large number of think tanks
• Think tanks represent a broad range of ideologies
  and ideals
• Think tanks help policymakers and citizens
• understand complex problems
• show a rationality in addressing problems
• appreciate value of their independent research

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Types of AnalysisTable 4-2

• Scientific
• search for truth and build theory about policy
  actions and effects
• may be too theoretical for most decision makers
• examples academic social scientists, National
  Academy of Sciences

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Types of Analysis (contd)

• Professional
• analyze alternatives to solve problems
• goal is for practical value
• research can be too narrow due to time or
  resource constraints
• examples Brookings Institution, American
  Enterprise Institute, General Accountability
  Office

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Types of Analysis (contd)

• Political
• advocate and support preferred policies
• often ideological or partisan may lack
  analytical depth
• examples Sierra Club, AFL-CIO, Heritage
  Foundation

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What Analysis Is Needed?

• Root causes vs. pragmatic adjustments
• should focus be on the underlying issues or on
  addressing the issue at hand
• Comprehensive vs. rigor/relevance
• comprehensive is more thorough better
  methodologically, but also takes more time
• less rigor may be more timely to address problems
  but may have quality concerns

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What Analysis Is Needed? (contd)

• Consensual vs. contentious
• Rational analysis vs. democratic politics
• rational analysis tends to focus efficiency
• should citizen involvement also be considered
  when making decisions
• Ethical issues
• how studies are conducted
• bias or funding source of the analyst

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Discussion Questions

• Consider the case of using cell phones while
  driving a car. Given the info in this chapter,
  would you favor restricting drivers use of
  handheld cell phones? How would you defend this
  policy choice?
• Much of the policy analysis that is used in
  public debates today comes from interest groups
  committed to one side of the issue or another, or
  from think tanks that espouse a particular
  ideology. Do you think these commitments make the
  quality of the analysis suspect? Why or why not?
• Should policy analysis try to deal with the
  fundamental causes of social problems or aim for
  a more pragmatic and limited approach that may be
  more realistic and more politically acceptable?
  Why do you think so?