Definitions of Public Policy

Holistic Definition

" ... are courses of action, sometimes inaction, rules, and guidance for action, taken and adopted by the government or its instrumentality, presumably to address a given problem or set of interrelated problems in the society. Ideally, they are intended for a common good and welfare of the people."

What did Pal (1992) mean by: public policies are courses of action, sometimes inaction, rules, and guidance for action”?

“They are modern government’s quintessential response to the environment.”

“Public policies are taken and adopted by government or it’s instrumentality”

They are defined, assessed, formulated, adopted, implemented, monitored, and evaluated by the authorities.

Five scholars who attempted to define public policy

-Nicolaidis, 1963

-Rose, 1969

- Eyestone, 1971

- Dye, 1972

-Anderson, 1975

Nicolaidis, 1963

“a multi-dimensional entity of the organizational world; has pluralistic

purpose, character, form and development; is generally incomplete and

sometimes ambiguous to leave enough freedom to the operating levels to

shape the (final) policy”

Rose, 1969

“a long series of more or less related activities (rather than discrete

decisions”

Eyestone, 1971

“the relationship of a government unit to its environment”

Dye, 1972

“whatever governments choose to do or not do”

Anderson, 1975

“a purposive course of action followed by an actor or set of actors in

dealing with a problem or matter of concern”

The five definitions by Nicolaidis, Rose, Eyestone, Dye, and Anderson in one sentence

Public Policies are made presumably to address a given problem or set of interrelated problems in the society.

5 Syntheses of the Definitions by Nicolaidis, Rose, Eyestone, Dye, and Anderson

1. It is a pattern of action over time, and it goes through a process

2. It is larger than a decision; it could be made up of decisions to address a problem

3. It is guided by a purpose or a goal

4. It involves action as well as no action, a decision to do something or a decision not to do anything

5. It is authoritative, and uses various instruments for compliance

6.