12.3: How to Analyze Public Policy

Political Systems Theory

As with many subjects in political science, we have to first decide how to go about studying public policy. We might begin with a very idealized view of public policymaking. Treat public policy challenges as problems to solve, with the government as a unitary actor in charge of the whole process. It's all rather straightforward. Identify a problem or challenge. Formulate a policy to address the problem. Implement the policy and then evaluate how successful the policy addresses the problem. Such an approach to public policy analysis looks like the diagram shown in Figure 12.3.1. 

 

Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): The Traditional Model of Policy Analysis (CC BY 4.0; Alexa Johnson)

There is a certain clarity and simplicity to this approach. Develop effective solutions to problems and measure how well they have succeeded. For example, as California introduces an ethnic studies curriculum to high schools, it can then measure if student comprehension and attitudes change. The weakness of this model is that it misses the politics surrounding the whole policymaking process. How have public opinion, the media, interest groups, and parties set the agenda? How do the interactions of different parts of government—the legislature, the governor, bureaucracies, and the Courts, shape the formulation and implementation of policies? Lastly, how do the people evaluate policies? What outcomes are selected as measures? Why? In short, public policy analysis is quite complex. How can we understand the full dimensions of public policymaking?

We don’t have to look far.

This book and most other introductory political science textbooks use systems theory to organize the subject for easier study. This approach is also very useful for policy analysis. Recall that systems theory conceptualizes politics as an exchange among inputs, institutions, and outputs. Californians make demands on political institutions, which then generate policies that impact people. Systems theory allows for generalizability and understanding of the historical and social context of policymaking. The steps to engage in policy analysis using political systems theory are straightforward. Take a particular policy question. Consider public opinion, with its origins in political culture and ideologies, regarding an issue. Reflect on these opinions in their historical and contemporary social contexts. Study how these opinions pressure the government through many factors, including interest groups, the media, voting, parties, campaigns, and elections. Next, examine how policymaking institutions address these popular pressures. Are the State Assembly and Senate deliberating about new legislation? What is the governor doing? Is the issue subject to litigation? Are bureaucracies addressing the issue with new studies and proposing new regulations? Finally, examine the policy that emerges and study its impact. Is the policy successfully addressing the problem?  Fogure 12.3.2 shows the parts of the political system.

Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\): The Political System (CC BY 4.0; Alexa Johnson)

Systems theory allows us to link each part of the political system to the whole and see how they interact to formulate government policy. It is well-suited to a democratic form of government where inputs from the people will be substantial. Systems theory does not propose any specific policy prescriptions.

Should we abandon the simple and idealized model of policy analysis for the grubby and complicated world of systems analysis? The clarity and simplicity of identifying problems and evaluating government responses to them remain valuable. It allows us to ask big questions. Then, systems theory introduces the complexity of actual politics to our studies, where we can study the political system's different facets and how they impact policymaking.

There are so many fascinating public policies to study. Where shall we begin? One way to gain some perspective on so many policies is to examine the state budget, which gives us a financial overview of many policies.