EGAN POLICY 100 MIDTERM

What is a collective action problem?

A situation where individuals would benefit from cooperation but have an incentive to free ride, leading to suboptimal outcomes.

Give an example of a collective action problem.

Environmental protection—individuals may not reduce their carbon footprint if they believe others won't.

What is the difference between government and governance?

Government is the body that exercises authority; governance is the process or activity of governing and making policy happen.

Define a public good.

A good that is non-excludable and non-rivalrous, meaning everyone can use it without reducing availability for others.

What is a pure private good?

A private good with no market failure, exchanged between private sector and consumers.

What are common pool resources?

Goods that cannot be jointly consumed and exclusion is difficult, e.g., air, water, fisheries.

What is a toll good?

A jointly consumed good where exclusion is possible, e.g., cable TV services.

What is a pure public good?

A jointly consumed good where exclusion is not possible, e.g., national defense.

What are policy outputs?

Formal government actions like laws, regulations, and programs.

What are policy outcomes?

The actual effects those actions have on society, e.g., improved environmental conditions.

What does the executive branch do?

Carries out laws; includes the President, VP, Cabinet, and bureaucracy.

What does the legislative branch do?

Makes laws; consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

What does the judicial branch do?

Interprets laws; includes the Supreme Court and lower federal courts.

What is elite theory?

Policy reflects the preferences of governing elites more than those of the general public.

What is group theory?

Policy results from competition among organized interest groups (pluralism).

What is institutional theory?

Focuses on how government structures, rules, and organizations shape policy outcomes.

What is rational choice theory?

Assumes individuals act rationally to maximize self-interest; explains behavior of policymakers.

What are the stages of the policy process model?

1. Problem Definition, 2. Policy Formation, 3. Policy Legitimation, 4. Policy Implementation, 5. Policy Evaluation, 6. Policy Change.

Why is the policy process cyclical?

Because policies are revised and adapted based on new information and conditions.

What are the four main criteria for evaluating policy?

Effectiveness, Efficiency, Equity, Political Feasibility.

Define effectiveness.

Likelihood of achieving policy goals and objectives.

Define efficiency.

Achieving benefits at the least cost or maximizing benefit for cost.

Define equity.

Fairness in distribution of costs, benefits, and risks across groups.

Define political feasibility.

Extent to which elected officials will support a policy.

Name some policy instruments.

Regulate, Subsidize, Ration, Tax and Spend, Contract Out, Use Market Incentives, Privatize, Charge Fees, Educate, Create Public Trusts, Conduct Research.

Give an example of using taxes as a policy instrument.

Imposing cigarette taxes to discourage smoking.

What is cost-benefit analysis?

Compares total expected costs and benefits to determine if a policy is worthwhile.

What is cost-effectiveness analysis?

Compares policy options that achieve the same goal to find the least costly one.

What is incremental policy making?

Small, gradual policy changes rather than sweeping reforms.

What are unfunded mandates?

Federal requirements imposed on states without providing funding.

What is social identity?

Part of a person's identity defined by membership in social groups.

How can policy be improved?

By following the policy process model to define, implement, evaluate, and revise policies.