Policy Instruments

• The government employs several strategies as policy instruments in order to accomplish policies. They act as a tool to achieve the desired results.
• Information exchange, licensing, service provisions, spending, rules, doing nothing, partnerships, taxation, contracts, subsidies, and authority are some of the policy instruments.
• The policy instruments are expected to:

⇒ Individuals’ behaviour will alter as a result of your efforts.

⇒ Identify the socio-economic and political conditions.

⇒ Assist the general population with their needs.

⇒ Constraints to the policy instruments:

⇒ Past actions.

⇒ Economic, social, international, and cultural influences are all present.

⇒ The political framework.

Various Policy Tools at Government’s Disposal:   

• Doing Nothing: No intervention by the government.
• Information-Based: Using strategies such as information transfer, moral persuasion, and effective communication to influence others.
• Expenditure-Based: Using money as an instrument to achieve objectives of policy. This is done through various money disbursement techniques like grants, subsidies, etc.
• Regulation: Limiting the activities according to the norms and acceptable behaviour.
• Acting Directly: Direct provision of services to the citizen, for example, schools, waste management, parks, etc.

Influencing Factors to Policy Instruments:        

• Government and Governance
• International Influence