Public Policy

What is public policy?

policy that directly affects the pubic, attempts to address societal injustices. Can be restrictive or distributive

What are the components of public policy?

Goals

Intentions

Plans

Programs

(GIPP)

Whats the difference between output and outcome?

Output → did we even get this plan implemented/put in place. Like did our law even get passed

Outcome → So what was the actual result after it got passed? Use the goal as a measurement of that 

How does public policy effect your driving?

The car itself (the past of car must legally be there)

Road system (all road rules)

Driving behaviors (legislation by law)

Licensing and Insurance

Aspects of life NOT governed by policy

sleep, dreams, thoughts

Why does gov intervene for certain issues?

Due to political, moral/ethical issues, economic issues: Market Failures

What is an MF Externality?

decisions and actions of those involved in the market exchange that affect others

• Negative: third party not compensated for harm/loss 

• Positive: third party does not have to pay for a gain

What is MF Information Failure?

Not a problem for certain items where you buy it a lot of times, bad for one time purchases like cars.

What is the 4 types of Market Failure?

Externality

Infor Failure

Common pool and Public Goods

Externalities

What is a Common Pool?

Can be used up and cannot be excluded; clean water

What’s a Pure Private good/services?

can be used up and can be excluded: loaf of bread

What is a Pure Public good?

Can not be used up and can not exclude: clean air

What is a toll good?

cannot be used up and can be excluded

What is protective regulation?

Protects the general public ex: health and safety rules

Competitive Regulation?

regulates industry ex: antitrust regulation, copy right policy, etc

What is Distributive Policy?

Gov efforts to distribute some benefit to a portion of the population and paid with general tax revenues

Redistributive policy

• The government provides benefits to one group of people by taxing another group (robin hood policies) basically taking from rich ppl to give to needy 

• Ex: Unemployment, welfare, head start, food stamps,

what are the contexts of public policy

social

economic

political

cultural

governing

Dual federalism system

National Gov and State Governments entirely separate; Layer cake 

Cooperative Federalism

National gov and state gov get mixed up and cooperate some policies; Marble cake 

Policy Gridlock

when governments struggle to pass laws or implement policies because competing political forces block one another.

how to measure gridlock?

how many bills are being passed compared to what's being proposed, measure of useful bills, frequency of government shutdowns, bipartisan votes, 

Risks of public involvement?

• Slower process so less efficient

• Losing trust in gov if going bad 

• Public isn’t experts ALL the time

Benefits of public involvement?

• Broader political participation

• Trust

• Understand at a greater level bc public/locals have specialized local knowledge

Group Theory (pluralism)

• Politics as the product of struggle among groups → literally just a group of ppl with the same interest

• power is dispersed between the interest group

• very inclusive

Critic if Pluralism?

a glorified view of politics. It doesn't work this way in practice. The policy that gets made does not consider everyone because resources aren't fairly dispersed.

Elite Theory?

• only people of power in control

• Iron Triangle (interest group, bureucracy, gov NO people)

• role of elites

Critic of Elite theory

But if this is the case why would there be ANY policy that helps the people? It does exist so why?

Institution Theory

• Emphasizes formal and legal aspects of gov structure

• Structure determines the rules of the game!

  • Who has access

  • What info is available

  • jurisdictions/authority 

Critic of Institution Theory?

the organizations and rules used to structure patterns of interaction within and across organizations. These rules are not unbiased, there is favor!

What is the Policy Paradox “Losing May Be Winning”?

contradictions. If you say ahh its gonna be a tight race idk i may be in the lead now idk abt later… even if you ARE pretty ahead it encourages people to go out and support you rather than sit complacent

What is liberty?

Freedom from government infringement

Types of harm

1. Physical injury

2. Material harms

3. Amenity harms

4. Psychic harms

5. Spiritual and moral harms

Negative Liberty?

• Most areas of life should be free from gov 

• Policy implications: places restrictions of gov (minimal regulation)

Positive Liberty?

• The power to choose one's life path and realize goals 

• True freedom only exists when basic needs are met

What is the concept of security?

Freedom from danger or injury = security

Some may also the ability to not be anxious about certain protections

What is Measuring Risk?

• likelihood of unwanted event x consequences: What are the chances it will happen? How bad will it be if it does?

Can security be a feeling?

Peace of mind!

How does Security challenge Rational Choice Theory?

People overthink so much that they if they perceive something as risky they will rely on that thought even if it is untrue.

How can Political Leaders Produce security?

Reduce threat and Mitigate harms as well as reassure citizens

do security measures leave everyone safer?

no! risks are not distributed equally, nor is security. THINK MASS SECUIRTY FLOCK CAMERA

Equality?

everyone gets the same exact thing

Equity?

everyone gets what they need to be on the same level

What is morality policy?

• “Extremely popular but rarely effective”

• High levels of non-compliance

• Role of bureaucrats 

• Debates deadass never settled