• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
• 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
• 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
• 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
• 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
• 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
• 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
• 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
• 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
• 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
• 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
• 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
• 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
• 
• 
• 

13. Politics, Analysis, and Policy Choice

Study

Because political conflict and uncertainty are endemic to policymaking, almost all policies represent a compromise on the goals being sought as well as the policy tools proposed to achieve them. Chapter 13 concludes the text by discussing how policy analysis can be useful to policy actors during the decision making process. Adequately and appropriately evaluating alternatives provides more information, thereby helping decision makers make better choices. This chapter reviews the common criteria of effectiveness, efficiency, and equity and argues that policy analysis will help improve policy capacity. The end of the chapter also discusses citizen involvement—why it is important and new ways that individuals can become more part of the policy process. Citizens are significant participants in the policymaking process, whether it is through the simple act of voting (including initiatives and referendums that offer citizens the chance to vote directly on measures) or whether it is through more intensive involvement in government and civic affairs at the local, state, and national levels. Throughout, this book has emphasized an integrated approach to the study of public policy rather than focusing on policy history and program details. Although such information is clearly important, policy and program particulars change quickly, and the knowledge learned may be of limited use over time. In addition, the amount of information available can be overwhelming and contain many biases. In the long run, the perspectives and approaches of policy analysis are more helpful in understanding how the nation's policies evolved and in considering what alternatives might work better. The text has stressed how to think about policy issues, where to find pertinent information, and how to interpret it. It also has underscored the need to develop a robust capacity for critical and creative thinking about public problems and their solutions no matter what the specific issue.