Introduction to Public Policy

A policy is typically composed of general statements regarding priorities, written regulations or guidelines, processes, and/ or standards that must be met. In its most basic form, a policy is a distinct style of working that is suited for following the principles you desire within a certain environment and that directs the organisation’s or individual’s decisionmaking.

Public Policy:

• What the government chooses to do or not do is known as broad public policy. It is the government’s decision to take action or not to take action in order to resolve the problem.
• A set of acts that directs the scope of related actions in a specific subject is known as public policy. They rarely deal with a single issue, but rather with complex and longterm issues.
• These are the actions taken by the government in response to common public issues, such as education, health, etc.
• A policy process is a method of comparing and contrasting various solutions to a set of problems.
• There are three main components to every policy:

⇒ Description of the issue.

⇒ Goals should be met.

⇒ Policy resources to address the problem and achieve goals.

Nature of Public Policies:       

• Goal Oriented: Policies involve deliberate actions designed to attain goals. Goals and objectives depend upon the values of policy makers. The National Education Policy, for example, strives to realign the education system to meet the needs of the twentyfirst century.

• Collective Actions: Various pressure groups, civil society organisations and other groups through coordinated collective actions influence the policy. For instance, the government recently cancelled the implementation of three farm laws.

• Decision: Generally, decisions are taken as be the administrators in their day to day work Within existing framework of policy. Policy decisions are eventually taken, thus provide, a sense of direction to the course of administrative actions.

• The government’s activities can be divided into three areas from a public policy viewpoint: 

⇒ First, there are activities linked to specific policies

⇒ Second, there are activities that are more general

⇒ Third, there are activities based on ambiguous or vague policies. However, in practice, a government rarely has a list of guiding principles for each of its  activities                                    

Opportunities: 

• Dynamic process: policy-making is continuing activity taking place within the structure, it requires continuing inputs. It changes with time.

• Policy-making involves various stakeholders, different issues, societal values, etc.

• Every sub-structure contributes to public  policy in a varied and sometimes unique way.
• Most socially relevant decision-making, such as the majority of public policy making, is designed to result in actions.
•  Policymakers are focused on the future. This is one of its most important characteristics because it brings the ever-present aspects of ambiguity and scepticism, which set the tone for practically all policymaking.
• Public policy’s ultimate goal is to maximise the net benefit. Benefits and costs are partially represented by realised and impaired values, respectively.

Issues: 

• Policymaking involves many components, Which are interconnected by communication and feedback loops. There are also implicit and explicit processes, the hidden processes are very difficult and often impossible to observe which makes them complex.
• Often the policies are framed at the top and implementation is to be done at the bottom level, this creates a gap.
• In general, impact evaluators lack research capabilities.
• Public policies are frequently enacted in reaction to demand, particularly from a powerful interest group, to do something quickly, even if the effects of that particular “something” are unknown.