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Policy Design and Non-Design: Towards a Spectrum of Policy Formulation Types

Resource type
Date created
2014-11-14
Authors/Contributors
Abstract
Public policies are the result of efforts made by governments to alter aspects of behaviour—both that of their own agents and of society at large—in order to carry out some end or purpose. They are comprised of arrangements of policy goals and policy means matched through some decision-making process. These policy-making efforts can be more, or less, systematic in attempting to match ends and means in a logical fashion or can result from much less systematic processes. “Policy design” implies a knowledge-based process in which the choice of means or mechanisms through which policy goals are given effect follows a logical process of inference from known or learned relationships between means and outcomes. This includes both design in which means are selected in accordance with experience and knowledge and that in which principles and relationships are incorrectly or only partially articulated or understood. Policy decisions can be careful and deliberate in attempting to best resolve a problem or can be highly contingent and driven by situational logics. Decisions stemming from bargaining or opportunism can also be distinguished from those which result from careful analysis and assessment. This article considers both modes and formulates a spectrum of policy formulation types between “design” and “non-design” which helps clarify the nature of each type and the likelihood of each unfolding.
Document
Identifier
2183-2463
Published as
Howlett, Michael and Ishani Mukherjee. "Policy Design and Non-Design: Towards a Spectrum of Policy Formulation Types". Politics and Governance. 2014. v.2 n.2. 57-71.
Publication title
Politics and Governance
Document title
Policy Design and Non-Design: Towards a Spectrum of Policy Formulation Types
Date
2014
Volume
2
Issue
2
First page
57
Last page
71
Copyright statement
Copyright is held by the author(s).
Scholarly level
Peer reviewed?
Yes
Language
English
Member of collection
Download file Size
PG-Howlett-2014.pdf 673.21 KB

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