Models (Theories) of Public Policy

• Order/simplify reality

• Identify what is significant

• Congruent with reality

• Facilitate communication

• Help direct research

• Suggest explanations

Policy Stages (Dye)

• Problem Identification

• Agenda Setting

• Policy Formulation

• Policy Legitimation

• Policy Implementation

• Policy Evaluation

Different Theories of The Policy Process

(neo)Institutionalism

Rationalism

Incrementalism/Punctuated Equilibrium

Pluralism (group theory)

Elite theory

Rational Choice/Public Choice

Game theory

Policy Streams

Hofferbert’s Model

What institutional features of U.S. politics are important to understand when considering the policy process?

Federalism

Separation of Powers

Checks and Balance

Campaign contributions

Committees

Low voter turnout

Rational Choice

• Predicting policymaker behavior

–Median voter model

• Predicting types of policies adopted

–Narrow benefits/diffuse costs

Policy Streams

• Problems Stream: events, information, etc.

• Policy Stream: researchers, policy entrepreneurs; policy options/alternatives

• Politics Stream: elections, leadership

• Window of opportunities when these three streams meet