1_Policy Analyzing Public Policy Essentially,

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Analyzing Public Policy

Essentially, the first two chapters of this book provide a comprehensive overview of the various applications of public policy in relation to governments. The first chapter details the various uses for and practical purposes regarding policy and its analysis, while the second chapter outlines a number of specific models that assist in policy analysis. Included within these pages, of course, is an overview of what policy itself is -- particularly public policy as mandated and tended to by governmental entities. In many ways, this definition may be considered rather broad since it encompasses virtually anything that governments do from regulating various aspects of society to starting or ending conflicts. Actually, in today's society the majority of citizens depend upon public policy -- as administered by the government -- to assist in virtually all aspects of their lives, from economic to social needs. To that end, the government has grown substantially in the role it plays within the lives of ordinary citizens, due to the fact that the diversity of realms which it encompasses and administers has expanded as well. This fact may be best revealed through a look at the amount of money that governments spend, which is commonly referred to as the gross national product of a particular country and is measured by the sum of its services and goods that are produced. When the economy is struggling, as it currently is, more government is needed to assist in various aspects of life.

Therefore, the study of public policy allows individuals to ascertain key aspects of the political system that is setting and regulating policy, in order to determine who is benefitting from it and in what sorts of ways. There are a number of things that can be learned from public policy, such as what exactly the government is doing (which is a description of its policy), why it is taking whatever action it is or is not (the causes), as well as what the effects or the consequences are of such actions and how those consequences again influence public policy. One of the key distinctions to be found within the first two chapters of this book is the difference between policy analysis and policy advocacy. Policy analysis is primarily an examination for what and why public policy is, by analyzing both causes and effects of such policy. Policy advocacy, however, is urging a government to set a certain policy for a desired outcome. The analysis of policy is essential because it allows for various groups to then determine what sort of goals or direction they want their policy makers to advocate.