Models and Public Policy Study
Upul Abeyrathne,
Senior Lecturer,
Dept. of Economics,
University of Ruhuna,
Matara.
Development Project Metaphor
• Builders of Mega Development Project
Builders construct a scaled-down model of the
entire development projects to show
beforehand what would the project looks
like.
• Similarly, policy analysts employ conceptual
tools that help us to visualize reality.
Utility of Conceptual Tools
• These mental construct allow us to better
understand the formulation or
implementation of public policy. We need
some conception of reality to guide us our
analysis.
• There are Two important mental constructs in
policy study literature. i.e. Models and
Typologies.
What is a model?
• A model is a simplified representation of some
aspect of the real world (Thomas Dye, 1999,
Understanding Public Policy, p. 18)
• Models Facilitate understanding and enhnace
prediction (Moshe Robenstein, 1975, patterns
of Problem Solving, p.19)
• A model provides us a “lay of the land” or
graphical representation of some aspect of
policy process.
Uses and
• Models establishes relationships among a
number of determinants that are thought to
cause some phenomenon. Thus, it helps us to
see an abstraction of reality.
• Model may help us see a problem in a novel
way or it may hinder and distort the reality.
There are many types of models to
describe, explain or predicts elements
of a particular phenomenon
Descriptive Models
• The purpose is to explain or predict the causes
and consequence of the policy choices.
E.g. Deciding the success of achievements by
students. Does it depend on Family
background or quality of faculty.
This is the most common type of models in
policy study literature.
Normative models
• The purpose is not only to describe, explain
and predict but also to recommendations for
the optimization of a particular value
attainment.
E.g. Prevention of hunger in the world.
Hard and Soft Models
• Hard Model symbolizes the actual
phenomenon .Eg. Topographical map. It
represents the actual geography of the
landscape and is accurate with respect to
reality.
• Soft Model is a representation of purely
theoretical or hypothetical conceptual matters
of imagined characteristics of some event of
our concern.
Criteria for Evaluating Models
• A good models is like a good map.
• It guides us. Facilitate understanding .
Thomas Dyes suggestion of Criteria in
Public policy Studies
• A model has to order and simplify political life so
that we can think about it more clearly and
understand the relationships in the real world. It
should neither be so simple (Misunderstanding)
nor it should be so complex(Confusion).
• It has to identify the most important aspects of
Public Policy. It has to concern on the most
salient aspects of a political phenomenon such as
the causes and consequences of public policy
and no be concerned with irrelevant variables or
conditions.
Thomas Dyes suggestion of Criteria in
Public policy Studies
• Model has to be congruent with reality. It has to have
a strong relationship to the reality. It should no be
idealized or unrelated to the real world.
• A good model has to communicate something
meaningful in a way that we all can understand. Does it
have intersubjective agreement. That is the concepts
used in the model have to have understand by others.
• A model has to direct inquiry and research into public
policy. A good model has to suggest testable
relationships that can be observed, measured and
verified.
Thomas Dyes suggestion of Criteria in
Public policy Studies
• A good model has to suggest an explanation
rather than merely describing a public policy.
Two Best Known Models : Elitist and
Pluralist
• Elitist Model is based on the idea that public
policy is result of the preferences and values
of governing elite.
Summery of the Elite Model
• Society is divided into two group. A few have
the power. Many do not have the power. Only
a small number of person allocate values for
society. Masses do not decide public policy.
• The few who govern are not typical of masses
who are governed. Elites are drawn
disproportionately from upper socioeconmic
strata of Society
• The process of non-elite becoming elite is
slow. Non-elite who are accepted by the elite
consensus can be admitted to governing
circles.
• Elites share a basic consensus on behalf of the
social system and the preservation of it.
• Public policy does not reflect demands of the
masses but the values of the elite.
• Active elites are subject to relatively little
direct influences from apathetic masses. Elites
influence masses more than masses influence
the elite.
• Policy is directed from the top to bottom
rather than the reverse. Power flows upwards.
Decisions or policies flow downwards.
Pluralist Model
• Power is an attribute of individuals in their
relationships with other individuals in the
process of decision making.
• Power relationship does not necessarily
persist; rather they are formed for a perticular
decision. After this decision is made, they
disappear to be replaced by a different set of
power relationships when the next decision is
made.
• No permanent distinction exists between
elites and masses. An individual who
participated in the decision making process at
one time may not participate at another time.
• Leadership is fluid and highly mobile. Wealth
is an assets in politics. But it is not the only
asset.
• There are multiple centres and bases of power
within a community. No Single group
dominates in all issue areas.
• Considerable competition exists among
leaders. Public policy is ,thus , the results of of
bargains and compromises reached among
competing leadership groups.
Typologies
• A typology is a way of organising phenomena
into discrete categories for systematic
analysis.
Theodore Lowi’s Idea
• What was needed is a general framework that
could convert discrete facts from case studies into
a body of research that could be evaluated,
weighed and cumulated.
• His main argument has been that a political
relationship in policy making is determined by the
type of policy at stake. Every type of policy has a
distinctive type of political relationship. Thus, has
identified three type of policies. i.e. Regulatory,
Distributive and Re-distributive.
Regulative Policies
• They strive to limits the number of service
providers or protect people by setting
conditions under which services have to be
provided. Hence various group get engage in
conflict, bargaining and negotiation over who
should win and who should lose.
Distributive Policies
• They aim at promoting private activities that
are thought to be socially desirable through
subsidies etc.
• This type of policy does not create winners or
losers. There is no direct confrontation and
everybody benefits. E.g. Education
Redistributive Policies
• An attempt to distribute wealth and other
valued goods in society.
• It allocate benefits from one group to another.
• Ideological and involves class conflict.