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- 1. Public Policy Sixth Edition 2 For Sandy and Debbie, Kyle, and Darcy 3 Public Policy Politics, Analysis, and Alternatives Sixth Edition Michael E. Kraft University of Wisconsin–Green Bay Scott R. Furlong University of Wisconsin–Green Bay 4
- 2. FOR INFORMATION: CQ Press An Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc. 2455 Teller Road Thousand Oaks, California 91320 E-mail: [email protected] SAGE Publications Ltd. 1 Oliver’s Yard 55 City Road London EC1Y 1SP United Kingdom SAGE Publications India Pvt. Ltd. B 1/I 1 Mohan Cooperative Industrial Area Mathura Road, New Delhi 110 044 India SAGE Publications Asia-Pacific Pte. Ltd. 3 Church Street
- 3. #10-04 Samsung Hub Singapore 049483 Copyright © 2018 by CQ Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc. CQ Press is a registered trademark of Congressional Quarterly Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Printed in the United States of America Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Kraft, Michael E. | Furlong, Scott R., author. Title: Public policy : politics, analysis, and alternatives / Michael E. Kraft, University of Wisconsin, Green Bay, Scott R. 5 Furlong, University of Wisconsin, Green Bay. Description: Sixth edition. | Thousand Oaks, California: CQ Press, [2018] | Includes index. Identifiers: LCCN 2017000975 | ISBN 9781506358154 (pbk. : alk. paper)
- 4. Subjects: LCSH: Policy sciences—Evaluation. | Political planning—Citizen participation. | Political planning—United States—Evaluation. | Public administration—United States— Evaluation. Classification: LCC H97.K73 2018 | DDC 320.60973—dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017000975 This book is printed on acid-free paper. Acquisitions Editor: Carrie Brandon Content Development Editors: Anna Villarruel, John Scappini Editorial Assistant: Duncan Marchbank Production Editor: Tracy Buyan Copy Editor: Melinda Masson Typesetter: C&M Digitals (P) Ltd. Proofreader: Ellen Howard Indexer: Diggs Publication Services Cover Designer: Michael Dubowe Marketing Manager: Amy Whitaker 6 https://lccn.loc.gov/2017000975 Brief Contents
- 5. 1. Boxes, Figures, and Tables 2. Preface 3. About the Authors 4. Part I The Study of Public Policy 1. 1 Public Policy and Politics 2. 2 Government Institutions and Policy Actors 3. 3 Understanding Public Policymaking 5. Part II Analyzing Public Policy 1. 4 Policy Analysis: An Introduction 2. 5 Public Problems and Policy Alternatives 3. 6 Assessing Policy Alternatives 6. Part III Issues and Controversies in Public Policy 1. 7 Economic and Budgetary Policy 2. 8 Health Care Policy 3. 9 Welfare and Social Security Policy 4. 10 Education Policy 5. 11 Environmental and Energy Policy 6. 12 Foreign Policy and Homeland Security 7. Part IV Conclusions 1. 13 Politics, Analysis, and Policy Choice 8. Glossary 9. References 10. Index 7 Detailed Contents
- 6. Boxes, Figures, and Tables Preface About the Authors Part I THE STUDY OF PUBLIC POLICY 1 Public Policy and Politics What Is Public Policy? Defining Basic Concepts Government Politics Policy Analysis Why Study Public Policy? Citizens’ Ability to Participate and Make Choices Citizens’ Ability to Influence Policy Decisions The Contexts of Public Policy Social Context Economic Context Political Context Governing Context Cultural Context The Reasons for Government Involvement Political Reasons Moral or Ethical Reasons Economics and Market Failures The Practice of Policy Analysis The Many Uses of Policy Analysis Citizens’ Use of Policy Analysis How to Decide Which Policy Is Best: Using Multiple Criteria Conclusions
- 7. Discussion Questions Keywords Suggested Readings Suggested Websites Notes 2 Government Institutions and Policy Actors Growth of Government Government Institutions and Policy Capacity Federalism The Evolution of Federal-State Relations State Variation in Policy Capacity 8 Separation of Powers Legislative Branch Executive Branch Judicial Branch Informal Policy Actors and Policy Capacity Public Opinion and Policymaking Interest Groups, Nonprofits, and Public Policy Media Policy Subgovernments and Issue Networks Improving Policy Capacity Conclusions Discussion Questions Keywords Suggested Readings Suggested Websites Notes
- 8. 3 Understanding Public Policymaking Theories of Politics and Public Policy Elite Theory Group Theory Institutional Theory Rational Choice Theory Political Systems Theory The Policy Process Model Problem Definition and Agenda Setting Policy Formulation Policy Legitimation Policy Implementation Policy Evaluation Policy Change Instruments of Public Policy Regulation Government Management Taxing and Spending Market Mechanisms Education, Information, and Persuasion Policy Typologies Conclusions Discussion Questions Keywords Suggested Readings Suggested Websites 9
- 9. Notes Part II ANALYZING PUBLIC POLICY 4 Policy Analysis: An Introduction The Nature of Policy Analysis Steps in the Policy Analysis Process Define and Analyze the Problem Construct Policy Alternatives Choose Evaluative Criteria Assess the Alternatives Draw Conclusions Types of Policy Analysis Scientific Approaches Professional Approaches Political Approaches What Kind of Analysis Is Needed? Deal with Root Causes or Make Pragmatic Adjustments? Comprehensive Analysis or Short-Term Policy Relevance? Consensual or Contentious Analysis? Reliance on Rational Analysis or Democratic Politics? Other Aspects of Policy Analysis Conclusions Discussion Questions Keywords Suggested Readings Suggested Websites Leading General Journals of Public Policy Major Professional Newsweeklies with Policy Coverage Notes 5 Public Problems and Policy Alternatives Problem Analysis
- 10. The Nature of the Problem Thinking about Causes and Solution s How to Find Information Constructing Alternatives What Governments Can Do Policy Typologies as Analytic Tools Thinking Creatively about Policy Action Conclusions Discussion Questions Keywords Suggested Readings Suggested Websites 10
- 11. Notes 6 Assessing Policy Alternatives Evaluative Criteria for Judging Policy Proposals Effectiveness Efficiency Equity Ethics and Political Values Using the Methods of Policy Analysis Economic Approaches Cost-Benefit Analysis Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Risk Assessment Decision Making and Impacts Forecasting Impact Assessment Political and Institutional Approaches Political Feasibility Analysis Implementation Analysis and Program Evaluation Ethical Analysis
- 12. Conclusions Discussion Questions Keywords Suggested Readings Suggested Websites Notes Part III ISSUES AND CONTROVERSIES IN PUBLIC POLICY 7 Economic and Budgetary Policy Background Goals of Economic Policy Economic Growth Low Levels of Unemployment Low Levels of Inflation Positive Balance of Trade Managing Deficits and Debt Interrelationships of Economic Goals Tools of Economic Policy Fiscal Policy Monetary Policy Regulation Incentives, Subsidies, and Support
- 13. Tax Policy The Budget Process and Its Effect on Economic Policy 11 Assumptions and Planning Agency Budget Development OMB Budget Review Congressional Review Budget Execution and Control Economic Policy: Successes and Failures Significant Income Tax Cuts Responses to the Deficit American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Economic Issues and Challenges Maintaining Economic Growth Growth of Entitlements Income Inequality Focused Discussion: How to Address the Budgetary Shortfall
- 14. Economic Issues Political Issues Equity and Other Ethical Issues Conclusions Discussion Questions Keywords Major Legislation Suggested Readings Suggested Websites Notes 8 Health Care Policy Background Evolution of Health Care Policy A Hybrid System of Public and Private Health Care The Perils of Being Uninsured Strengths and Weaknesses of the U.S. Health Care System A Pluralistic Health Care System Major Government Health Care Programs Medicare Medicaid Veterans’ Health Care
- 15. Other Health Care Policy Issues Portability Patients’ Rights Rising Health Care Costs State Policy Innovations Regulation of Prescription Drugs Managed Care Organizations 12 Reducing Health Care Costs Quality of Care Medical Errors Focused Discussion: Should There Be Greater Emphasis on Preventive Health Care? Effectiveness Economic Efficiency Issues
- 16. Equity and Other Ethical Issues Conclusions Discussion Questions Keywords Major Legislation Suggested Readings Suggested Websites Notes 9 Welfare and Social Security Policy Background Poverty Social Security Social Security’s Changing Demographics Problems with Social Security Financing Social Security Welfare The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Aid to Families with Dependent Children The Earned Income Tax Credit Welfare Reform Options
- 17. Welfare Reform Law Analysis of the Welfare Reform Law Focused Discussion: Can We Do Better? Addressing Poverty Economic and Effectiveness Issues Political Issues Ethics and Equity Issues Conclusions Discussion Questions Keywords Major Legislation Suggested Readings Suggested Websites Notes 10 Education Policy Background 13 Problems Facing Education Funding
- 18. Separation of Church and State Quality Education Policy Reforms Merit Pay Teacher Standards, Certification, and Salaries School Vouchers, School Choice, and Charter Schools School Testing Higher Education Issues Affirmative Action Costs of Higher Education Focused Discussion: Higher Education Affordability, Cost, and Value Economic Issues Political Issues Equity and Ethical Issues Conclusions Discussion Questions Keywords Major Legislation Suggested Readings Suggested Websites
- 19. Notes 11 Environmental and Energy Policy Background The Evolution of Environmental and Energy Policy Early Environmental and Energy Policies The Modern Environmental Movement and Policy Developments From Consensus to Conflict in Environmental Policy Major Federal Environmental Policies The National Environmental Policy Act Environmental Protection Statutes and the EPA Natural Resource Policies Energy Policy Focused Discussion: Climate Change and Energy Policy Alternatives Economic Issues Political Feasibility Ethical Issues Conclusions
- 20. Discussion Questions Keywords Major Legislation 14 Suggested Readings Suggested Websites Notes 12 Foreign Policy and Homeland Security Background and Policy Evolution The Marshall Plan, NATO, and the Cold War The United Nations and Globalization Military Buildup and Nuclear Weapons The Intelligence Agencies and the War in Iraq Economic and Military Assistance: Foreign Aid Selected Issues in Homeland Security Comparing Homeland Security Threats: How Vulnerable Are We? The Case of Transportation Security
- 21. Focused Discussion: Civil Liberties in an Age of Terrorism Effectiveness and Efficiency Legal and Ethical Concerns Conclusions Discussion Questions Keywords Major Legislation Suggested Readings Suggested Websites Notes Part IV CONCLUSIONS 13 Politics, Analysis, and Policy Choice Policy Analysis, Citizen Participation, and Policy Change Public Policies and Their Impacts Policy Conflicts and Incremental Decision Making Policy Strategies with No Crystal Ball Policy Analysis and Policy Choices Evaluating Public Policy Improving Policy Capacity
- 22. Citizen Participation in Decision Making Citizen Capacity and Policy Engagement New Forms of Citizen Participation Conclusions Discussion Questions Keywords Major Legislation Suggested Readings Suggested Websites Notes 15 Glossary References Index 16
- 23. Boxes, Figures, and Tables Chapter 1 Working with Sources: Interest Groups on the Web (box) 12 Working with Sources: The Public’s Political Knowledge (box) 13 Private Goods and Public Goods (figure) 26 Steps to Analysis: How to Interpret Policy Studies (box) 29 Chapter 2 Federal, State, and Local Agents of Policymaking and Avenues of Policy Formation (figure) 46 Working with Sources: State Public Policies (box) 50 Working with Sources: Congress (box) 53 Working with Sources: Executive Departments and Agencies (box) 57 Federal Cabinet Departments and Major Agencies (table) 59 Working with Sources: The Federal Judiciary (box) 61 Steps to Analysis: Public Opinion (box) 63 How Much Americans Worry about Global Warming (figure) 63 Working with Sources: Interest Group Policy Strategies (box) 66 Chapter 3
- 24. The Policy Process Model (table) 90 Steps to Analysis: What’s on the Agenda? (box) 95 Steps to Analysis: Appraising Policy Formulation (box) 99 Steps to Analysis: Judging Policy Legitimation (box) 101 Instruments of Public Policy (figure) 107 Chapter 4 Steps in the Policy Analysis Process (figure) 124 Orientations to Policy Analysis (figure) 132 Steps to Analysis: Think Tank Positions on Policy Issues (box) 133 Working with Sources: Comparing Think Tanks (box) 135 Chapter 5 National Health Expenditure and Revenue by Category, 2015 (figure) 153 Working with Sources: Sustainable Development Indicators (box) 155 Steps to Analysis: Major Components of Problem Analysis (box) 160 What Governments Can Do (figure) 165 Steps to Analysis: Policy Design Tools (box) 167 Chapter 6 Selected Criteria for Evaluating Public Policy Proposals (figure)
- 25. 183 Steps to Analysis: Conducting a Cost-Benefit Analysis (box) 196 Steps to Analysis: Ethical Analysis: The Case of Organ Donation (box) 213 Chapter 7 Steps to Analysis: Employment and Unemployment Statistics (box) 231 17 Working with Sources: The Consumer Price Index (box) 233 Tools of Monetary Policy (figure) 239 Steps to Analysis: Variables in Making Tax Policy (box) 243 The Federal Budgetary Process (figure) 244 Working with Sources: Views on Economics and Budgeting (box) 253 Fiscal 2017 Proposed Federal Budget by Category (in billions of dollars) (figure) 255 Chapter 8
- 26. Working with Sources: Health Care Policy Information (box) 275 Major Features of the Affordable Care Act (box) 278 Major Government Health-Related Programs (table) 284 National Health Expenditures, 1980–2025 (in current dollars) (table) 293 Steps to Analysis: Regulation of New Drug Approval (box) 297 State Obesity Rates, 2015 (figure) 304 Working with Sources: Ethical Issues in Health Care (box) 307 Chapter 9 Characteristics of Individuals Living below Poverty, 2014 (figure) 320 U.S. Poverty Rates by Age, 1959–2015 (figure) 320 Gini Coefficient for U.S. Income Distribution, 2015 (figure) 321 Income Distribution in the United States, 2015 (table) 322 Shares of Aggregate Income of Elderly by Source, 2014 (figure) 325 Steps to Analysis: AARP as an Advocacy Group (box) 327 Fewer Workers per Retiree, 1955–2090 (figure) 328 Working with Sources: Welfare and the Weakening Economy (box) 338 Number of Families Receiving AFDC/TANF Benefits for Every 100
- 27. Families with Children in Poverty (figure) 341 Chapter 10 Steps to Analysis: What Successful Education Programs Require (box) 360 Steps to Analysis: State Education Funding (box) 361 Steps to Analysis: Civic Knowledge (box) 364 Median Salaries of Selected Occupations, 2015 (table) 370 Teachers’ Salaries Relative to Earning for Similarly Educated Workers, 2013 (figure) 370 Inflation-Adjusted Tuition and Fees, 1986–1987 and 2016–2017 (figure) 378 Steps to Analysis: “I’m a Student Debt Slave” (box) 379 Federal Loans and Pell Grants Awards by Type of Institution, 2013–2014 (table) 379 Educational Appropriations per Pupil, Percent Change by State, 2010– 2015 (figure) 381 2015 Mean Salaries of Males and Females over Age Twenty- five, by Educational Attainment (table) 383
- 28. 18 Number of Loans and Loan Amounts for First-Time, Full-Time Undergraduate Students for Their First Year in College (in constant 2013 dollars) (table) 387 Chapter 11 Steps to Analysis: Sustainable Development (box) 401 Major U.S. Environmental Laws, 1964–2016 (table) 407 Steps to Analysis: Voting Records on the Environment (box) 410 League of Conservation Voters’ Environmental Voting Scores: U.S. Congress—by Chamber and Party, 1970–2015 (figure) 410 Working with Sources: Executive Agencies with Environmental Responsibilities (box) 412 Working with Sources: Environmental Policy Advocacy (box) 417 Working with Sources: Evaluating Environmental and Energy Policy (box) 420 Comparison of Growth Areas and Emissions, 1980–2015
- 29. (figure) 421 Chapter 12 Steps to Analysis: The National Security Agency and Domestic Surveillance (box) 447 Steps to Analysis: What Is the Cost of the Global War on Terrorism? (box) 460 Foreign Aid Given by OECD Countries, Total (in billions of dollars) and as Percent of Gross National Income, 2015 (figure) 462 Top Foreign Aid Recipients, 2016, Including Military Assistance, Estimated (figure) 463 Steps to Analysis: Should Passenger Aircraft Be Equipped with Antimissile Defense Systems? (box) 470 Chapter 13 Steps to Analysis: Money in Politics (box) 506 Steps to Analysis: Using Websites to Influence Public Opinion and Policy Debate (box) 509
- 30. 19 Preface Forecasts about likely future conditions often are hard to make. But we can be sure of one thing. Health care costs are going to soar in the coming decades as the baby boom generation continues to age and demands an array of increasingly expensive medical services. From 2008 through 2013, U.S. health care spending grew by less than 4 percent annually, one of the lowest rates in more than fifty years, providing some modest relief from what had been an unrelenting upward spiral in costs. In 2014, the rate increased somewhat from these levels, rising to 5.3 percent, following a 2.9 percent rise in 2013, largely because of expanded coverage under the Affordable Care Act; and in 2015, the rate increased again, to 5.8 percent. Total health care spending rose to a record high of $3.2 trillion in 2015, or almost 18 percent of the nation’s gross
- 31. domestic product (GDP). The United States spent $9,900 per person for health care in 2015, a figure certain to grow substantially over the next decade. Indeed, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services projects that per capita spending on health care by 2025 will be an astonishing $16,032 and that overall health care spending will rise to $5.6 trillion, or nearly 20.1 percent of GDP. The new spending figures were released in late 2016, more than six years after President Barack Obama succeeded in gaining approval from Congress for his sweeping changes in health care policy, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, also known as Obamacare. One purpose of the act was to slow the rate of increase in the nation’s health care spending. Whatever effects the complex and far-reaching act may have, assuming that it survives continuing legal challenges and opposition by Republicans in Congress as well as the administration of President Donald Trump, we are still likely to see an ongoing rise in
- 32. national health care costs. What is the best way to deal with these ballooning costs, particularly in light of other trends—for example, continuing high levels of obesity—that could drive up costs even further? How should we protect the solvency of the Medicare trust fund as demands from baby boomers threaten to bankrupt it and jeopardize benefits for future generations? Indeed, what forms of health care and Social Security will be available to the generation of citizens now in their teens and twenties? What are the alternatives from which we must choose, and on what basis should we decide? Such public policy decisions touch nearly every aspect of daily life in the United States, although many people fail to recognize or fully understand their impacts. Social Security reform, for example, may not seem terribly urgent to most young people today, but it undoubtedly will shape the quality of their lives decades down the road. This is why citizens need to understand not only how governments make policy choices but also how to
- 33. evaluate those choices in what is often a sea of conflicting and misleading information and arguments. We believe the reason to be politically aware is simple: policymakers are more 20 responsive to the public’s preferences and needs and, in some cases, are more effective when citizens take a greater interest in public affairs and play a more active role in the policymaking process. We hope this text stimulates readers’ interest and concern while equipping them with the skills they need to think critically and creatively about policy problems. The subtitle of this book—Politics, Analysis, and Alternatives— explicitly expresses what we are trying to accomplish, which differs from conventional books on public policy. This text integrates three aspects of public policy study: government institutions and the
- 34. policymaking process, the concepts and methods of policy analysis, and the choices that we make collectively about substantive public policies at all levels of government. Throughout, we focus on the interrelationship of government institutions, the interests and motivations of policy actors both inside and outside of government, and the role of policy analysis in clarifying public problems and helping citizens and policymakers choose among policy alternatives. These central themes are reinforced by providing students with the tools they need—how to find key and reliable information, how to use specific evaluative criteria, how to apply policy analysis methods and critical thinking, and how to assess the role of politics in policymaking—to investigate issues and carry out policy analysis on their own. We believe that this hands-on approach is the best way to teach the skills of analysis and give students not only an understanding of the conduct of public policy but also a way into the process. 21
- 35. A Focus on Policy Analysis By emphasizing the pervasiveness of public policy, we try to make its study a vital activity for students. They can better appreciate the power they wield to effect change in the system once they are armed with the tools of policy analysis. However, the logic of public policy and its study must be addressed before students encounter these powerful tools of the trade. In Part I, we demonstrate that public policy choices are not made in a vacuum. Social, economic, political, and cultural contexts matter, as do the distinguishing characteristics of the U.S. government and the rationales behind government intervention. An understanding of the structure of institutions, the motivation of policy actors (both formal and informal), and the unique nature of the U.S. political system will allow students to comprehend the complexity of government while discovering opportunities for engagement
- 36. with the process. We present multiple perspectives on the policymaking process, from elite theory to rational choice theory, but concentrate on the policy process model—a portrayal of policymaking as a sequence of key activities from agenda setting to policy implementation—that is used in the rest of the book. We hope these chapters encourage students to ask how decisions are made as well as why they are made in one way and not another. Part II gets to the heart of the book and explains the approaches and methods of policy analysis, laying a foundation for dissecting and understanding public problems and policy choices. With careful application of the tools and perspectives of policy analysis, students can interpret complex and conflicting data and arguments, evaluate alternative courses of action, and anticipate the consequences of policy choices. Specific cases—from tax cuts and cell phone use by drivers to immigration reform and energy policy—illustrate both the difficulty of policy analysis and its value in policymaking.
- 37. Students learn how to find and interpret policy-relevant information and to acquire an understanding of the limitations to what government can do about public problems. The evaluative criteria at the book’s core —a focus on effectiveness, efficiency, and equity—train students to think clearly about policy alternatives. Ethical considerations necessarily receive considerable attention as do the more common concerns over effectiveness and efficiency. Brief case studies, such as those involving organ donation, personal privacy in relation to homeland security goals, national energy policy and climate change, and the morality of contraceptive coverage under the Affordable Care Act, give students the opportunity to grapple with controversial issues for which no policymaker has the answer. Part III consists of six substantive policy chapters designed to illustrate and apply the concepts and methods introduced in the first two sections of the book. The six core policy areas—economics and budgeting, health care, welfare and Social Security, education,
- 38. energy and the environment, and foreign policy and homeland security—represent a substantial part of contemporary U.S. policymaking and also present a diversity of 22 economic, political, and ethical issues for analysis. This part of the text offers a clear picture of the issues that beginning analysts would encounter in policymaking or in the evaluation of all areas of public policy. For readers who want to probe more deeply into those policy areas that we discuss peripherally—for instance, criminal justice and civil rights and liberties—we strongly recommend Issues for Debate in American Public Policy (2017), which offers selections from the CQ Researcher and abundant references to current policy debates. Consistent with the text’s emphasis on analysis, we begin each policy area chapter with a brief illustration of a policy scenario, such as the rising costs of
- 39. health care and the gap between spending and results, the persistence of poverty in the United States, conflicts over energy policy and climate change, and the balance between domestic surveillance by the National Security Agency (NSA) and civil liberties, to spark student interest. A background section describes the public problems faced and the solutions chosen to date. We briefly summarize major policies and programs, discuss when and how they came into effect, review available policy evaluations, and suggest how students can investigate policy alternatives. At the end of each chapter, we offer a focused discussion of policy reform in terms of several of the key evaluative criteria used throughout the text, particularly effectiveness, efficiency, equity, and ethics. These discussions link closely to the kinds of questions that can be asked about any proposal for policy change and how it might be addressed. In Part IV, a concluding chapter brings together the arguments of the text, evaluates opportunities for citizen involvement in policymaking, and looks to future
- 40. challenges in public policy. 23 New to This Edition We made a great many changes throughout the text while preparing this sixth edition. We updated material in every chapter, particularly those that focus on substantive policy topics, and streamlined content to present the most essential information. In all chapters, we incorporated new studies and interpretations and made use of new illustrations and case studies of policy controversies and actions. In addition, we sought throughout the text to improve the clarity of presentation and to update all references to websites and recommended readings. We continue to use learning objectives that begin each chapter; they help to guide students on key chapter content and takeaways. Graphics in Parts I and II of the book provide illustrations of processes and functions
- 41. essential to policymaking, enlivening the text and providing more material for visual learners. Throughout, the content benefits from a new interior layout that we began in the last edition to refresh the book’s look and bring a splash of color. 24 Special Features To underscore the importance we place on active learning and critical engagement, we include two unique text boxes to guide students as they research policy problems: “Working with Sources” and “Steps to Analysis.” The Working with Sources feature identifies important sources of information and how to utilize them, providing step-by-step suggestions on how to make good (and critical) use of the information found on Internet sites—among other resources—that offer important data sources and policy perspectives.
- 42. The Steps to Analysis feature invites critical thinking about specific policy problems. It demonstrates how to ask the urgent questions that drive policy analysis, and then presents ways to narrow and refine these questions into feasible projects. To further direct students to the information they need, discussion questions at the end of each chapter get at, for instance, the “best” way to deal with health care concerns, environmental problems, education issues, or homeland security. These questions are followed by annotated suggested readings, suggested websites, a list of major legislation where appropriate, a list of keywords, and chapter notes. Students will find a list of references and a glossary at the end of the book as well. All have been updated for this edition of the text. 25 SAGE edge for CQ Press This edition comes with a full range of high-quality, class-
- 43. tested instructor and student ancillaries prepared by Chris Borick. Each ancillary is specifically tailored to Public Policy. SAGE edge offers a robust online forum featuring an impressive array of tools … DAT 205 One-Pager Template Instructions: Fill in all bracketed, bold text ([text]) and the blank cells in the tables below. Industry One: [Identify the industry you selected.] Roles and Responsibilities Areas of Data Analytics Industry-Specific Challenges Citations Industry Two: [Identify the industry you selected.] Roles and Responsibilities
- 44. Areas of Data Analytics Industry-Specific Challenges Citations Completing Research and Finding Information/Data for Policy Research Student Name: Date: Chapter 5 discusses several ways in which to find reliable information on a variety of policy issues. In this exercise, you will use two statistical sites to evaluate policy issues. 1. You have read the immigration articles for today. What do they say regarding U.S. immigration? FacTank: Number & Types of Immigrants: Refugee Status: Education level: Where immigrants live in the U.S.: Employment Status: English Speaking:
- 45. Number of Deportations: View of Americans regarding Immigrants: The Hill What does the author say are the economic benefits of immigrants? What data is used to support this claim? Wall Street Journal What does the author say are the economic impacts of immigrants? Positive and negative. How are low-skilled/low-wage citizens impacted? How are employers/business owners impacted? How are real estate markets impacted? How did reduction in immigrants’ impact/affect the recession in AZ? How has the AZ workforce and GDP changed in AZ since 2008? 2. Go to the U.S. Census website http://census.gov that offers state-level statistics on a range of topics. First, choose a state and review the demographic characteristics. Next go to https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/ table/US/POP645218 that provides information about foreign born residents by state.
- 46. What state did you choose? What is the ethnic breakdown of the state? Is the population of the state growing or declining? What is the number of foreign-born residents? Is this number growing or declining? Why do you think this is important? 3. Based on the information you have read and using critical thinking skills of policy analysis and evaluation: What is your problem definition regarding immigration? What is the scope of the issue (size, incidence, effects, perceptions, political reality)? Who are the stakeholders in this issue?
- 47. What policy options/alternatives? What are possible criteria for evaluating these alternatives? Recommend a policy alternative and explain your reasoning for the choice.