Evidence, Argument, and Persuasion in the Policy ProcessYale University Press, 01/01/1989 - 190 من الصفحات In modern industrial democracies, the making of public policy is dependent on policy analysis--the generation, discussion, and evaluation of policy alternatives. Policy analysis is often characterized, especially by economists, as a technical, nonpartisan, objective enterprise, separate from the constraints of the political environment. however, says the eminent political scientist Giandomenico Majone, this characterization of policy analysis is seriously flawed. According to Majone, policy analysts do not engage in a purely technical analysis of alternatives open to policymakers, but instead produce policy arguments that are based on value judgments and are used in the course of public debate. In this book Majone offers his own definition of policy analysis and examines all aspects of it--from problem formulation and the choice of policy instruments to program development and policy evaluation. He argues that rhetorical skills are crucial for policy analysts when they set the norms that determine when certain conditions are to be regarded as policy problems, when they advise on technical issues, and when they evaluate policy. Policy analysts can improve the quality of public deliberation by refining the standards of appraisal of public programs and facilitating a wide-ranging dialogue among advocates of different criteria. In fact, says Majone, the essential need today is not to develop 'objective' measures of outcomes--the traditional aim of evaluation research--but to improve the methods and conditions of public discourse at all levels and stages of policy-making. |
عبارات ومصطلحات مألوفة
accepted achieve action administrative agencies Anthony Downs arguments assessment assumptions behavior carcinogenic chapter choice conceptual conclusions constraints core costs craft criteria critical debate decision maker decision theory discussion economists effective efficient effluent charges environmental evaluation evidence example experts fact formal Giandomenico Majone goals Hence ideas implementation important incentives inputs interest issues knowledge limitations logical material fallacies mathematical measure ments methods Milton Friedman National Health Service nomic norms objective optimal OSH Act OSHA outcomes output Pareto-efficient particular persuasion pitfalls policy actors policy analysis policy development policy instruments policy problems policy space policymakers pollution possible practical principles procedures produce professional programs proposals public deliberation public policy rational reason regulation regulatory relevant Reuben Hersh Richard Neustadt role rules safety and health scientific situation social solution statistical Stephen Toulmin strategies technical theoretical theory tion traditional values York