Introduction
Classical Rational Problem solving model
Public sector Limitations
Define the problem Problems are interlined
Determine important social values
No agreement on social value
Identify all alternatives Limited time, knowledge
Assess all alternative Lack of predictability
Select optimal alternative Pressure to select the first good solution
Implement optimal alternative Short time horizon to produce results
Introduction
Traditional research Policy analysis
Seek “truth” Is practical
Explicit steps and procedures
Flexible, situational
Addresses broad questions Addresses local problems
Focus on complexity Focus on decision making
Science Craft
Policy concept
The notion: Whatever the government decides to do or to do not;
Behind the concept: the changed role of the State;
The Policy community: Horizontal interaction between State and Society actors
The interaction content: the trade of interest and influence
The related notions
Policy stakeholders: the groups, organizations or persons with influence and/or interest in the policy result
Policy objectives, instruments, results Policy rationality: to achieve the policy
objectives at reasonable price Policy effectiveness: the grade of the policy
objective achievement Policy efficiency: the relation between the cost
ant the benefits
The consequences of the policy concept use
The policy is the variable, the process traits are the factors;
The policy rationality depends on the Process parameters: the stakeholders and their interaction, the time for decision, the problem information etc.;
The policy rationality increase depends on the policy process parameters improvement.
Thesis
The main factors for the policy rationality is the rational behavior of the stakeholders,
That meansEvery stakeholder advocate its own
interest
AndHas the capacity for policy analysis
Stakeholders analysis in the area of child
poverty: Table of stakeholders’ interest
Stakeholders interests +/-
Ministries
Regulating agencies
Municipalities
Courts
Universities
NGO
Other organizations
Business
Stakeholders analysis in the area of child poverty: table of interest and influence
Stakeholders interest influence
Ministries
Regulating agencies
Municipalities
Courts
Universities
NGO
Other organisations
Business
Policy analysis in six steps (Carl V. Patton)
Verify, define and detail the problem;Establish evaluation criteria;Identify alternative policies;Evaluate alternative policies;Display and distinguish among the
alternative policies;Monitoring the implementing policy.
The issues
The measurement of poverty Relative against Absolute poverty: Not either,
the both. (The European approach - Might it be contested?)
Standards to measure the relative poverty – comparison with whom?
The income – is it the unique measure? The house conditions; The consumption Access to the culture The entertainments
The issue
Which problem is more important:The poverty existence, the size of poverty;The poverty gap, the difference between the
people on the level of poverty threshold and the poorest people;
The poverty persistence;The poverty of the special groups;
The issues
Which is focal problem:Those perceived as a focal by the
stakeholders?Those measured as a focal?
Not either, the both
The issues
Causes:The lone-parenthood;The low incomes of the householdThe size of the householdThe unemploymentThe social policy
The issues
The effectsDrop-off the schoolTeen pregnancy and early marriagesThe criminality among young peopleThe risk behaviorThe health problemsThe persistence of poverty
The objectives tree
To transform the statements of the problems tree into desirable outcomes
What to do??? withThe lone-parenthood;The low incomes of the householdThe size of the householdThe unemploymentThe social policy
The criteria
CostNet benefitEffectivenessEfficiencyEquityAdministrative easeLegalityPolitical acceptability
The issue
The efficiency against the equity? How the equity achievement can be done in
an efficient way???
The current answer: Targeted (to the groups in need) programs Sectoral (targeted to the special needs)
programs Programs management
The alternatives
To diminish the taxes / To increase the family allowances
Universal approach/ targeted approach
To give chances/to give benefits
To support families (parents)/ to support children
The choice of alternative
There is not an uncontested alternativeThe political approach: The alternative
approved by stakeholders seems the better solution;
The rational approach: The alternatives should be assessed through the criteria;
How to match the political and rational approach?
The Policy evaluation and monitoring
How to ensure the appropriate implementation of the policies and the out-comes achievement
Indicators for the desirable results: The share of the pupils dropped-off the school; The share of the pupils in the integrated schools The share of the pupils in the out-school
educational forms The decrease of the infant mortality The limitation of the risk behavior The share of the children in the institutions The share of the children executed crime The number of the abused children.
The Policy capacity
Two types of actors: of the State and of the Society
Three axes of the policy capacity: Institutional:
The procedures of horizontal coordination and participation
The institutional capacity of the NGO sector Knowledge:
Skills for policy analysis Ethical
Public responsibility