Introduction

The study of public policy, including the methods of policy analysis, has been among the most

rapidly developing fields in the social sciences over the past several decades. Policy analysis

emerged to both better understand the policymaking process and to suppy policy decision makers

with reliable policy-relevant knowledge about pressing economic and social problems. Dunn

(1981, 35) defines policy analysis as “an applied social science discipline which uses multiple

methods of inquiry and arguments to produce and transform policy-relevant information that

may be utilized in political settings to resolve policy problems.” By and large, the development

of public policy analysis first appeared as an American phenomenon. Subsequently, though, the

specialization has been adopted in Canada and a growing number of European countries, the

Netherlands and Britain being particularly important examples. Moreover, in Europe a growing

number of scholars, especially young scholars, have begun to identify with policy analysis.

Indeed, many of them have made important contributions to the development of the field.

Although policy advice-giving is as old as government itself, the increasing complexity of

modern society dramatically intensifi es the decision makers’ need for information. Policy

decisions combine sophisticated technical knowledge with complex social and political realities.

MEANING OF PUBLIC POLICY

Public policy consists of political decisions for implementing programs to achieve societal

goals.

Public policy can be since as a systematic way by which political leaders apply some certain

technicalities to achieve a societal goal.

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According to William Jenkins’ ( 1978 ) public policy as a set of interrelated decisions taken by

a political actor or group of actors concerning the selection of goals and the means of achieving

them within a specified situation where those decisions should , in principle, be within the

power of those actors to achieve.

MEANING OF PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS

Policy analysis is a set of techniques and criteria which help to evaluate public policy

options and select among them to rationalize the development and implementation of public

policy and as the means to greater efficiency and equity in allocation of public resources.

According to (Chochran & Malone, 1995) Policy analysis describes investigations that

produce accurate and useful information for decision makers

According to (Dunn , 1981) Policy analysis is an applied social science discipline which uses

multiple methods of inquiry and argument to produce and transform policy -relevant

information that may be utilzed in political setting to resolve policy problems

WHY WE STUDY PUBLIC POLICY

Most governments of developing countries are engaged in the momentous task of kindling nation

resurgence through socio-economic development. They are struggling hard to develop their

economy, to sustain improvements in the social system and to increase the capacity of their

political system with a view to achieving the major objective of national development. They seek

to improve the relevant policies. It is, therefore, taken for granted that the studies of approaches,

strategies and concepts which will contribute towards this end are essential. The study of public

policy represents a powerful approach for this purpose. Public policy is an important mechanism

for moving a social system from the past to the future. It helps to shape the future. In other
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words, the study of public policy helps the development of professional advice about how to

achieve particular goals.

TYPES OF PUBLIC POLICY

REGULATORY PUBLIC POLICY

A major goal of regulatory policy is to maintain order and prohibit behaviors that endanger

society. Government accomplishes this goal by restricting citizens, groups, or corporations

from engaging in those actions that negatively affect the political and social order. Examples

include attempts to administer voting procedures, provide traffic ordinances, and prohibit

people from using certain drugs. Another goal of regulatory policy is to protect economic

activities and business markets by prohibiting industry from practicing activities detrimental

to the free market, such as the creation of monopolies. Regulatory policy is also evident in

the use of laws designed to protect the workplace and the environment.

DISTRIBUTIVE PUBLIC POLICY

Distributive policy refers to the provision of benefits to citizens, groups, or corporations.

Governments also use distributive policy to encourage certain activities. Tax abatements and

farm subsidies to promote economic development, and tax write-offs for homeowners to

promote the housing industry, are good examples. Distributive policy is also evident when

the government promotes the purchase of U.S. savings bonds.

REDISTRIBUTIVE PUBLIC POLICY

The major purpose of redistributive policy is to promote equality. The government

redistributes societal wealth from one group to another group. This occurs when the
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government provides benefits directly to citizens through social programs such as welfare.

Progressive taxation, where tax rates increase as your income increases, is another example

of a redistributive policy.

Constituent policy: The meaning of constituent is permitting one person or organization to work

as an agent. For government, a constituent policy is connected mainly to development of new

departments, internal distribution of funds and rules for public servants. That is why, such a

policy is either structural or procedural.

ROLES OF PUBLIC POLICY

 Serving the society

 A Device for improving economic social system.

 A mechanism for shaping future of the society

 Improving food and nutrition

 Regional inequality and minority problems

 Help in achieving national objective e.g Economics, Social, Technological,

Education, Health, etc

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PUBLIC POLICY APPROACHES

Type of Approach Primary Objective

1. Process approach 1. To examine a part of the policy process

2. Substantive approach 2. To examine a substantive area

3. Logical-positivist approach 3. To examine the causes and consequen-ces of

policy using scientifc methods

4. Econometric approach 4. To test economic theories

5. Phenomenological ( Postpositivist ) 5. To analyze events through an intuitive process

approach 6. To examine the role of multiple actors in

6. Participatory approach policymaking

7. Normative approach 7. To prescribe policy to decisons makers or others

8. Ideological approach 8. To analyze from a liberal or conservative point

of view

9. Historical approach 9. To examine policy over time

CONCLUSION

This unit has been able to examine the origin and nature of public policy analysis. The growth

and study of Public Policy analysis became a phenomenon in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Until then,

behaviouralism dominated the research attention and discourse and attention of political

scientists. In that period, the concern of Political Science was the issue of values and ideals and

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their justification in solving social problems. Another issue was the institutions of government in

terms of types, powers, functions, structures and processes. With the new thrust in research,

Public Policy analysis began to develop. Several factors were responsible for this, namely:

awareness that policies and government programmes have to be realized for the benefits of the

citizens; expanded roles of modern day government in regulating and distributing goods and

services and providing welfare activities to the citizens; the poor performance of government

policies and programmes and the demand for better policies to solve social problems; and the

yearning of political scientists for relevance in governance and discipline. Policy analysis covers

past, current, and potential activities. It makes no distinction between policy as aspiration and

policy as achievement- and it does not readily distinguish between policy as action and policy as

inaction. It can be expressed as general purpose, decision, proposal, programme, output,

outcome, process, model and theory.

REFERENCES

Dror, Y. (1968). Public policy-making Re-examined. San Franscisco: Chandler. (1971). Design

for Policy Science. New York: Elsevier

Eneanya, A.N. (2010). Policy Research, Analysis and Effective Public Policy Making in Nigeria.

Lagos: Concept Publications Ltd.

Ikelegbe, A.O. (1994). Public Policy-making and Analysis. Benin-City: Uri Publishing Ltd.

Lasswell, H. and Deiner, D. eds. (1951). The Policy Sciences. Standford: University Press.

Sapru, R.K. (2010). Public Policy: Formulation, Implementation and Evaluation, (2nd edition).

New Delhi: Sterling Publishers Private Limited