1. Canadian Public Policy Pol Sci 342 Introduction Dr. Douglas Brown St Francis Xavier University January 2010

2. Canadian Public Policy 1. Introduction to Course Objectives Format and Workload Schedule of Topics 2. What is Public Policy? 3. What is Policy Analysis?

3. 1. Introduction to the Course: Course Objectives To understand the theory and practice of policy analysis as a field of study To understand the changing context for policy issues and policy-making in Canada To undertake policy analysis of selected public issues.

4. Format and Workload Classroom lectures and discussion – two classes per week Class Content: Part One: fundamentals of theory and general background Class Content Part Two: application to specific policy problems Reading required textbook Researching your own policy topic

5. Evaluation One short paper due Feb 1 (15%) Mid-term exam, February 24 (35%) Group presentation and class participation (20%) Policy Analysis Brief, due April 7 (20%) Attendance and participation (10%)

6. 2. What is Public Policy? Les Pal’s definition: “…a course of action or inaction chosen by public authorities to address a given problem or interrelated set of problems”

7. Policy provides framing By setting out first principles and parameters For how to deal with individual cases and patterns, sometimes including the unexpected. For general guidance for the many subsequent decisions to be made in the application of a policy

8. Examples of Policy Areas…1 Macroeconomic Debt and deficits Debt and deficits Monetary Monetary Gaming revenue Gaming revenue GST GSTSocial Health care Health care Income security Income security Employment insurance Employment insuranceSecurity Military missions Anti-terrorism Emergency preparationEnvironment Greenhouse gases Water quality Toxic wastes

9. Examples of Policy Areas…2 Industry and Trade WTO agenda WTO agenda Regional development Regional development Drug patents Drug patents Legal/ Justice Gay marriage Gay marriage Juvenile sentencing Juvenile sentencing De-criminalization of marijuana De-criminalization of marijuanaEthno-cultural Language Aboriginal Peoples Immigration Multiculturalism

10. Examples of specific policy issues What to do about private health clinics? How best to make a contribution to global security against terrorism? How to prevent cigarette smuggling? How to protect the family farm? How to improve access to higher education?

11. Policy as rationalism Assumes a need for intelligent decisions Rationalist characteristics: Conscious Conscious Analytical Analytical Explicit Explicit Formal Formal Sometimes policy is not rational….but personal, unconscious, ad-hoc, “on the fly”…

12. Seeking Policy Statements… Policy statements are bundles of ideas, phrases, constructs….often just jargon to the uninitiated Components – Look for the following in a policy statement: How the problem is defined How the problem is defined The goals to be achieved The goals to be achieved How to achieve them (instruments to be used) How to achieve them (instruments to be used) Sometimes easy to find: Budgets, Ministerial Statements, Legislation, etc. But not always…:

13. 3. Policy Analysis Pal’s definition: “disciplined application of intellect to public problems” Its interdisciplinary: law, economics, public opinion, ethics, psychology, among others Rational, but attempts to compensate for potential cultural or gender bias An activity of experts, sometimes in tension with citizen perspectives

14. Types of Reasoning used in Policy Analysis Normative – basic values, philosophy, ethics Legal – Constitutional principles, statute law Logical – hangs together consistently, proper cause and effect Empirical – quantitative evidence to assess impacts, cost/benefit, public opinion, administrative effectiveness

15. Capacity for Policy Analysis Requirements: Foundation of scientific capacity in society Foundation of scientific capacity in society Expertise within government Expertise within government Availability of objective measurements (i.e. statistics) Availability of objective measurements (i.e. statistics) Overall commitment to deductive logic, clear method Overall commitment to deductive logic, clear method Found usually in developed countries only Often taken for granted

16. The Limitations of Policy Analysis Takes too long Gets too expensive Too narrowly focused Culturally biased, too much rhetoric Only delivers bad news Doesn’t in fact get used….policy decisions made on bases other than the analysis

17. The recent “policy movement” Good governance as a prerequisite for economic growth and development; objective policy analysis a prerequisite for good governance Policy capacity to be built up where it was lacking (e.g. former communist countries) International “best practices” in public management, public policy Key agents involved: OECD, World Bank, Soros Foundation

18. Studying Policy Analysis: Some Key Questions What is the structure of ideas that seems to guide action? What evidence or other demonstration of reasoning was required to devise the policy? Whose interests are served by these ideas? Does analysis make any difference to decisions taken?