5 Classes of Public Policy
Class
Activity
RESOURCE ALLOCATIVE
giving, aiding, benefiting,
subsidizing
RESOURCE EXTRACTIVE
taking, taxing, requiring time
or service
REGULATORY
controlling behavior, setting
standards, inspecting for
compliance, punishing
non-compliance
SYMBOLIC
ritualizing, moralizing, making
promises, substituting rhetoric
for substance
INTERNAL ORGANIZATION
AND MANAGEMENT
organizing/managing government’s
affairs, budgeting, making rules
with respect to internal operation
Mainstream
Regulatory
Control of the
“consequences” of conduct;
consequences defined in
purely instrumental terms.
Orientation of the discourse
is:
ERROR
Resource Allocative
Resource Extractive
Internal Organization
Provide benefits, aid, or
subsidies to a particular
target group. Goals
defined instrumentally.
Orientation of the
discourse is:
Instrumental goals to
control conduct or raise
revenue. Orientation of
the discourse is:
“Process” definition of
the Constitution and
rights. Orientation of
the discourse is:
UTILITY
ERROR or UTILITY
FORM and
ACCOUNTABILITY
Radical
Control of conduct as good
or bad in itself;
consequences defined in
moral absolutes; stress on
“bad” conduct. Orientation
of the discourse is:
SIN
Goals defined in terms
of moral consequences,
such as improvement of
character (right) or
excesses of capitalism
(left). Orientation of the
discourse is:
Goals defined in terms
of “fairness” (correction
for excesses of
capitalism [left] and
preservation of property
rights [right]).
Orientation of the
discourse is:
CIVIC VIRTUE
ENTITLEMENT and
RIGHTS
“Outcome” definition of
the Constitution and
rights. “Good
government” is a
commitment to a
substantive definition of
justice. Government is
good when it is
committed to the
program (left) or to good
moral character (right).
Orientation of the
discourse is:
SUBSTANCE
COMMITMENT
ERROR
Law & Order
Mainstream
Correct negative externalities
Public goods (defense,
highways, etc.
ERROR or UTILITY
Taxation
•income
internal operations of
government -- neutral,
scientific decision-making
•anti-trust
•natural monopolies
Liberal, value-free education Fines - deter bad conduct
Economic sector
•patents
FORM
ACCOUNTABILITY
Subsidies (positive
externalities, research &
development
•sales
•property
reform for efficiency sake
Service
Licensing to enforce standards
SIN
LEFT
Right to results
(lawsuits to force
vigorous
regulation)
Cost-oblivious
Radical
UTILITY
“Stick” approach
RIGHT
Right to public
order & selfdefense
Moral guidance
Capitalism as
morally good
Affirmative action “Carrot” approach
Capitalism as
morally suspect
Prohibition to
promote
gender/racial
equality
Price
ceilings/floors
Prohibition to
deter morally
deviant behavior
*Opposition to
punishment for
“victimless
cimes”*
CIVIC VIRTUE
LEFT
RIGHT
Public
Privatization
ownership of
Subsidies to
essential services
businesses to
Displacement of pursue
corporate power community
interests
Planning for use
of common
Marketplace &
resources
“property
rights” to
Education for
determine
socialization of
usage of
liberal values
resources
(i.e., pluralism,
diversity, equity, Education to
tolerance, etc.) instill “moral
values”
ENTITLEMENT and
RIGHTS
LEFT
RIGHT
Progressive
taxes
exclusively
Regressive
taxes
exclusively
Anti-wealth
taxes (estate,
luxuries, etc.)
“Sin”/punitive
taxes
“Pigouvian”
taxes
Jury service
as a duty
Conscientious
objectors to
military
service
Jury service as
infringing on
privacy
Military
service as
patriotic duty
SUBSTANCE
COMMITMENT
LEFT
Nationalization of
the Bill of Rights
RIGHT
“States’ rights”
Framers’ intent
Broad
Republican
construction of the
government
Constitution
(“rightly
Increase
understood”)
democratic
Skepticism of
participation
masses
Reform to
Reform to
diminish influence
promote
of money in
government
politics/make
minimalism
government more
responsive to
ordinary citizens