This document discusses definitions and approaches to public policy. It defines public policy as actions or inactions by government to address public issues through laws, regulations, and other means. Approaches to analyzing public policy discussed include the analycentric approach focusing on individual problems, the policy process approach examining political processes and stakeholders, and the meta-policy approach taking a systemic context view. The document also outlines the public policy process in the Philippines and key stakeholders involved in Philippine public policy.

1. Transcript
 1. PUBLIC POLICYPSUGRADUATE SCHOOL URDANETACITYFDM 201ABIGAIL
PUGAL-SOMERA
 2. Nature of Public Policyand ProcessSome Public Policy
DefinitionsTraditionalViews
 3. SOME PUBLIC POLICY DEFINITIONS SOME DEFINITIONS: In any society,
governmental entities enact laws,make policies, and allocate resources.This is trueat
all levels. Public policy can be generally definedas a system of laws, regulatory
measures, coursesof action, and funding priorities concerning a giventopic
promulgated by a governmental entity or itsrepresentatives.
 4. SOME PUBLIC POLICY DEFINITIONS Public policy is an attempt by a
government toaddress a public issue by instituting laws,regulations, decisions, or
actions pertinent to theproblem at hand. Numerous issues can beaddressed by
public policy including crime,education, foreign policy, health, and socialwelfare.The
process to create a new public policytypically follows three steps: agenda-
setting,option-formulation, and implementation; thetime-line for a new policy to be
put in place canrange from weeks to several years, depending onthe situation.
 5. Nature and Scope of Public Policy “The authoritative allocation of values for a
society.” “The process of deciding who gets what, when,where and how.” “What
the government chooses to do or not to doabout a specific problem.” Establish the
boundaries of our freedoms & color thecontours of our interactions with other people
in ourpolitical, social & economic systems
 6. TRADITIONALVIEWS WoodrowWilson, who is arguably the father of modern
publicadministration, contends, “public policy is the laws and regulationswhich are
made by legislative statesmen and implemented bypublic administration personnel”
(as cited inWu Qiyuan, 1985, p. 4). This definition is obviously characterized by
“the dichotomy betweenpolitics and administration,” which narrows the scope and
limits therange of public policy makers. First, public policy includes not only laws
and regulations, but alsogovernment’s plans, instructions, decisions, and other
symbolic systems. Secondly, those who participate in the making of public policy
includenot only statesmen, but also representatives of citizens, experts, andscholars.
Especially in the modern era of the “administrative state”(Waldo, 1984), with the
sharp expansion of governmental function andthe wide application of administrative
judicial rights, executiveauthorities’ participation in making public policy has
increased steadily
 7. TRADITIONALVIEWS Harold Lasswell andAbraham Kaplan (1970) define public
policyas “a projected program of goals, values, and practices”.Theaforementioned
definition confuses public policy withprograms, making the latter seem overly
extensive. A programcan be public policy, but not all public policies are
programs.Ashas been pointed out, public policy also includes instructions,decisions,
laws, regulations, and other symbolic systems thatgovernment sends out.
 8. TRADITIONALVIEWS Thomas R. Dye (1987) thinks, “Public policy is
whatevergovernments choose to do or not to do”. Dye focuses not only on
government action, but alsoon government inaction, and therefore, his
definitionshows the obvious character of behavioralism. Itreflects the practical
discipline quality of public policyanalysis. “Action” means that government takes

2. measures oruses symbols openly in order to solve some publicproblem. “Inaction”
means that government does nottake measures or express active symbols, abiding
bythe principle of noninterference. Both are importantsolutions to public problems.
 9. TRADITIONALVIEWS Robert Eyestone (1971) defines public policy
mostextensively. He states, “In a broad sense, publicpolicy is the relationship
between governmentalorgans and their environment”. It is evident that Eyestone is
influenced by thescience of ecological administration. Indeed, public policy is the
function of agovernmental system and its living environment,namely P = F (G, E)
(here, P refers to public policy,G refers to governmental system, and E refers tothe
living environment).
 10. The Philippine PublicPolicy:Past, Present and Future
 11. Public Policy as a Study – A Brief History The post-war years saw the
emergence of publicpolicy as a subfield of public administration. In the US, interest
in policy studies started in 1950s.In the Philippines, however, it started not to
longago, in 1970s in the then Institute of PublicAdministration in the University of the
Philippines. Generally, policy studies can focus on the content ofpublic policy, its
processes, models, theories andapproaches of public policy its impact as well
asevaluation of public programs and projects.
 12. Public Policy as a Study – A Brief HistoryDye (1995) said that certain theoretical
approachesand models have been introduced in studying publicpolicy which
include institutional, process, group, elite, rational, incremental, game
theory, public choice and systems model.
 13. Approaches to Public Policy Analycentric focuses on individual problems and
their solutions; itsscope is the micro-scale and its probleminterpretation is usually of
a technical nature Policy Process puts its focal point onto political processes
andinvolved stakeholders; its scope is the meso-scale andits problem interpretation
is usually of a politicalnature Meta-policy Approach systems and context
approach; i.e., its scope is themacro-scale and its problem interpretation is usuallyof
a structural nature
 14. Public Policy in the PhilippinesThere are several institutional built-in systems of
policy-making in the Philippines, some of these are: National Economic
Development Authority (NEDA) – forsocio-economic policies National Security
Council (NSC) – for security and defense Legislative Executive Development
Advisory Council (LEDAC)– general legislative agendas Metro Manila
Development Authority (MMDA) – local levelagencies for concerns affecting basic
servicesThe last three agencies mentioned do perform certainstages of the public
policy process, none of them have a moredefined and extensive mandate and a
more permanent structurethan NEDA.
 15. NEDA The highest policy making body responsible for allaspects of the
development program NEDA Board is headed by the President withselected
Cabinet secretaries and other executivestaff officers and members. NEDA
Secretariat is the research arm of the NEDAboard. NEDA Director-General heads
the Secretariat, and isalso the Social-Economic Planning Secretary (perEO#230)
 16. Policy StreamPolicy FormulationLegitimationImplementationEvaluationAgenda
 17. Policy StreamAgenda• Actual performance during the preceding year• New
developments and emerging issues in the local and international economies• Shifts
in the policy emphasis of the administrationPolicy Formulation• Econometric Models•

3. Input-OutputAnalysis• Accounting Frameworks• Project Evaluation and
PrioritizationLegitimation• Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP)• State-of-the-
NationAddress (SONA)ImplementationForge a consensus at the pre-implementation
phase since it is thedifferent departments who are actually tasked to implement the
variousprograms stipulated in the MTPDP and other policy
declarationsEvaluationFeedback and monitoring mechanisms through its attached
agencies
 18. Stakeholders in Philippine Public
PolicyPhilippineGovernmentExecutiveBranchPoliticalPartiesLegislativeBranchCitizen
sJudicialBranchMediaLocalGovernmentsInterestGroupsPoliticalConsultants
 19. Problems and Criticisms New Influence Players Catholic Church – with two
EDSAs’ to their credit Mass Media – compelling instrument tomanipulate and /or
direct public opinion Civil Society – takes it upon themselves to rise upand partake
of the largesse of power
 20. PolicyAnalysisDescriptionApproachesFormsMethodology
 21. “A problem wellformulated is a problemhalf solved.”
 22. We want to learn how tolook at problems frommultiple perspectives toachieve
the best problemdefinition and possible /feasible solutions
 23. Not all Public Problems are amenable topolicy analysis, but when they are,
theanalysis can support decision making to: Determine whether a new policy is
required to address theproblem If a policy already exists, determine whether it
needs to bemodified or terminated Analyze one policy (retrospectively or
prospectively) Compare two or more policies that address a similar problem
Assess future implications of current or new policies Explore stages in the
development of particular policies
 24. Challenges of Public Policy problems May show up in ways that are difficult to
address “Inherently multidimensional”, overlap & contradict Are ill defined, so
“wicked problems” The consensus over social goals may be illusory Decision-
makers have different preferences andvalues, often conflicting The definition of a
policy problem is not completelyscientific or systematic: creativity, sagacity,
sociallyconstructed
 25. ThreeApproaches to Policy AnalysisApproach Primary Question Type of
InformationEmpirical Does it and will it exist? (facts)Descriptive
andpredictiveValuative Of what worth is it? (values) ValuativeNormative(value-
critical)What should be done? (action) Prescriptive
 26. Five types of Policy relevant information:interrelated and interdependentS. No.
Types Importance1Policy Problems Conceptualizing problem from different angles-
viable solutions2Policy Futures Identifying consequences of future course
ofaction3PolicyActions Forecasting & evaluating consequences of actionbased on
different alternatives4PolicyOutcomes Ensuring an observed consequences of
policyactions5PolicyPerformanceFinding the degree of value contributed by
policyoutcome (useful in forecasting policy future)
 27. Five Info is obtained by the means of -PolicyAnalysis Process of InquiryS. No.
Procedure Information1 Definition (ProblemStructuring)Conditions giving rise to a
policy problem2Prediction(Forecasting)Future consequences of acting on
policyalternatives, including doing nothing3Prescription(Recommendation)Future
course of action4Description(Monitoring)Present and Past causes and

4. consequencesof acting on policy alternatives5 EvaluationValue or worth of
consequences in solvingthe problem
 28. Three Elements of Policy SystemPolicyStakeholdersPolicyEnvironmentPublic
PolicyCrimeInflationUnemploymentDiscriminationUrban
SqualorPolicyAnalystsCitizens’GroupsLabor UnionsPartiesAgenciesLaw
EnforcementEconomicWelfarePersonnelUrbanSource: Adapted fromThomas R.
Dye, Understanding Public Policy 3rd ed.
 29. Dunn’s Integrated Framework:Problem Centered Policy AnalysisAdapted from
Public PolicyAnalysis:An Introduction byWilliam N. Dunn
 30. Forms of PolicyAnalysis Prospective Policy Analysis Retrospective Policy
Analysis Integrated Policy Analysis
 31. Prospective Policy Analysis The production and transformation of
informationbefore policy actions are initiated and implemented. Tends to
Characterize the operating styles ofeconomists, systems analysts, and
operationsresearchers. Synthesizes information to draw policy alternativesand
preferences.
 32. Criticism on Prospective AnalysisOften creates large gapPreferredSolutions
toProblemsEfforts ofGovt. toresolve theproblemGapsAdapted from Public
PolicyAnalysis:An Introduction byWilliam N. Dunn
 33. Retrospective Policy Analysis Confined to the production and transformation
ofinformation after policy actions have been taken. Operating styles of three major
groups of analysts:1. Discipline oriented analysts2. Problem oriented analysts3.
Application oriented analysts
 34. Retrospective Policy AnalysisDiscipline OrientedAnalysisProblem Oriented
AnalysisApplication OrientedAnalysisPolitical Scientists &Sociologists – seeks
todevelop and test disciplinebased theories.Political Scientists &Sociologists - seeks
todescribe the causes andconsequences of policies.Also persons from socialwork,
public administration& evaluation research.Seeks to describe causesDescribe the
causes andconsequences of thepolicies.Less concerned with thedevelopment and
testing oftheories. Discipline OrientedAnalysisWhat affected the policiesNot
concerned with dev.And testing of disciplinebased theories.Seldom attempts
toidentity specific goals andobjectives of policymakers(does not distinguish“policy
variables”).Seldom provides info aboutspecific goals and objectivesof policymakers.
Coz theproblem they analyze areusually of general nature.They are concerned
withthe identification of goalsand objectives of policymakers and otherstakeholders.
Good info forevaluating policy outcome.
 35. Integrated Policy AnalysisProspective PolicyAnalysisSuffers from inadequate
&unreliable info. About changes invalues , goals and objectiveswhich occur after
policies havebeen implemented.Integrated PolicyAnalysisBuilds on the strengths
ofboth Prospective &Retrospective Analysis –multidisciplinary in full senseof the
worldMultidisciplinary framework,concerns with the production &transformation of
information bothbefore and after policy actions havebeen taken.Provides
methodology for policyanalysis (rules & procedures)Retrospective
PolicyAnalysisSuffers from its nature i.e.confined with passive reporting
ofinformation about theconsequences of implementedpoliciesAdapted from Public
PolicyAnalysis:An Introduction byWilliam N. Dunn
 36. Integrated Policy Analysis FrameworkAdapted from Public PolicyAnalysis:An
Introduction byWilliam N. Dunn

5.  37. Methodology of Policy Analysis Descriptive DecisionTheory: set of logically
consistentpropositions that describe action. Primary aim is to understanda policy
problem rather than to solve it. Normative DecisionTheory: set of logically
consistentpropositions that provide a basis for improving theconsequences of
action.Appropriate for predicting andrecommending different courses of action
before they haveoccurred. Aim is to solve the problem - “Problem
Solving”methodology.
 38. Models of PolicyAnalysis
 39. Institutional Model Public policy is determined by political institutions, which
givepolicy legitimacy. Government universally applies policy to all citizens of
societyand monopolizes the use of force in applying policy. The legislature,
executive and judicial branches of governmentare examples of institutions that give
policy legitimacy.
 40. Process ModelIdentification of a problem and demand forgovernment
actionFormulation of policy proposals by variouspartiesPolicy Legitimation -
Selection andenactment of policyImplementation of the chosen policyEvaluation of
policy
 41. Group Model The political systems role is to establish and enforcecompromise
between various, conflicting interests insociety.
 42. Elite Model Public policies are viewed as preferences and valuesof governing
elite Policies flow down-ward from elites to masses; theydo not arise from mass
demands
 43. Rational Model process for making logically sound decisions in policymaking in
the public sector, although the model isalso widely used in private corporations.
HerbertA. Simon, the father of rational models,describes rationality as “a style of
behavior that isappropriate to the achievement of given goals,within the limits
imposed by given conditions andconstraints”
 44. Rational Model1• Defining the problem by analyzing the data and the
informationgathered2• Identifying the decision criteria that will be important in solving
the problem.The decisionmaker must determine the relevant factors to take into
account when making the decision3• A brief list of the possible alternatives must be
generated; these could succeed to resolvethe problem4• A critical analyses and
evaluation of each criterion is brought through. For examplestrength and weakness
tables of each alternative are drawn and used for comparativebasis.The decision
maker then weights the previously identified criteria in order to givethe alternative
policies a correct priority in the decision.5• The decision-maker evaluates each
alternative against the criteria and selectsthe preferred alternative.6• The policy is
brought through.
 45. Incremental Model Under this model, policy is a continuation of previouspolicy
with minimum changes Existing programmes, policies and expenditures
areconsidered as a base Policy makers accept the legitimacy of previouspolicies
because of uncertainty about theconsequences of new policies
 46. GameTheory It is a study of rational decisions in situations where two ormore
participants have choices to make and outcome dependson the choices made by
each. GameTheory is an abstract and deductive model of policymaking. It does
not describe how people actually make decisions butrather how they should go
about making decisions incompetitive situations if they are rational.

6.  47. Public Choice This model assumes that all political actors, voters,tax payers,
legislatures, bureaucrats, political parties,etc. seek to maximize their personal
benefits inpolitics as a market place. Individuals come together in politics for their
mutualbenefit, just as they come together in a market place.
 48. Systems Model
 49. Why PolicyAnalysis Models areImportant They: Create order and simplify
reality Identify what is significant Can be congruent with reality Can provide
meaningful communication Direct Enquiry and Research Suggest Explanations
 50. Why PolicyAnalysis Models areImportant Also, Model are not competitive;
anyone of the can notbe judged as best Each one provides a separate focus and
each canhelp understand different things about publicpolicy Most policies are a
combination of all modelsmentioned
 51. What PolicyAnalysis Can and CannotDo… Policy analysis can assist decision
makers in choosinga preferred course of action from complexalternatives and under
uncertain conditions. Policy analysis is not a panacea or a substitute forinadequate
policymaking processes, defects ofpublic decisions, bad judgment on the part
ofanalysts or policymakers, an exact science or a toolfor advocacy by the analyst for
his/her own views.Adapted from Public PolicyAnalysis:An Introduction byWilliam N.
Dunn
 52. Adapted from Public PolicyAnalysis:An Introduction byWilliam N. Dunn
 53. REFERENCES http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-public-policy.htm
http://www.musc.edu/vawprevention/policy/definition.shtml Public policy by William
N. DunnAssociate Dean and ProfessorUniversity of Pittsburg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Policy_analysis June 2013 The Philippines: Public
Policy and National EconomicDevelopment by Frank Golay Understanding the
Philippine Public Policy Process:AnExecutive Branch Perspective by .Antonio
F.Trillanes IV PNOctober 2002