Policy Analysis

Home > Political science > Public Policy > Policy Analysis

This topic covers the various methods used to analyze public policy, including cost-benefit analysis, stakeholder analysis, and policy briefs.

Public Policy: The term "public policy" refers to the laws, regulations, and guidelines that are implemented by the government to address societal needs and provide services to citizens.
Policy Analysis: The process of examining different policy options and evaluating their strengths and weaknesses to ensure effective implementation.
Stakeholder Analysis: The process of identifying and analyzing the different groups and individuals that will be affected by a particular policy or decision.
Cost-Benefit Analysis: A process of comparing the costs and benefits of different policy options to determine which option is more effective.
Policy Implementation: The process of putting a policy into action and ensuring that it is working as intended.
Policy Evaluation: The process of assessing the effectiveness of a policy and identifying areas for improvement.
Political Economy: The study of the economic and political factors that influence public policy decisions.
Public Administration: The study of the principles and practices involved in managing public services and programs.
Constitutional Law: The study of the laws and principles that govern the Australian Constitution, including the distribution of powers between the states and the Commonwealth.
Public Finance: The study of the financial resources available to governments and how they are allocated to different policy areas.
Comparative Public Policy: The study of how different countries and jurisdictions address similar policy challenges.
Ethics and Public Policy: The study of ethical considerations and values that underpin public policy decisions.
Political Science: The study of the structures and systems of government, including elections, voting, and representation.
Quantitative Research Methods: The use of statistical data to evaluate policy options and measure their impact.
Qualitative Research Methods: The use of interviews, surveys, and other non-numerical data to evaluate policy options and measure their impact.
Cost-Benefit Analysis: This type of policy analysis compares the costs involved in implementing a policy with the benefits it would bring, to determine if the policy is worth pursuing or not.
SWOT Analysis: SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. It is a tool for evaluating the viability of a proposed policy by analyzing the internal and external factors that may affect it.
Risk Analysis: Risk analysis involves identifying and assessing various potential risks associated with a proposed policy, including financial risks, environmental risks, and social risks.
Comparative Analysis: As the name suggests, comparative analysis involves comparing different policies to identify their strengths and weaknesses, and to determine which policy is the most effective in achieving a particular goal.
Stakeholder Analysis: This type of policy analysis focuses on identifying and analyzing the various stakeholders involved in a policy, including those who are affected by it and those who have a vested interest in it.
Impact Assessment: Impact assessment involves analyzing the potential impact of a proposed policy on the environment, the economy, and society at large, to determine whether the policy will have positive or negative consequences.
Feasibility Analysis: Feasibility analysis involves assessing the practicality and viability of a proposed policy, taking into account factors such as funding, resources, and logistics.
Program Evaluation: Program evaluation is focused on determining the effectiveness of an existing policy, by analyzing its outcomes and impact, and determining whether it is achieving its intended goals.
System Analysis: System analysis involves examining the system in which a policy will be implemented, including its rules, regulations, and institutional structures, to determine how it will function within the larger system.
Equity Analysis: Equity analysis evaluates the fairness and justice of a proposed policy, with particular attention to the distribution of benefits and costs across different groups in society.
"Policy analysis or public policy analysis is a technique used in the public administration sub-field of political science..."
"People who regularly use policy analysis skills and techniques on the job, particularly those who use it as a major part of their job duties..."
"...to examine and evaluate the available options to implement the goals of laws and elected officials."
"People who regularly use policy analysis skills and techniques on the job... are generally known by the title Policy Analyst."
"The process is also used in the administration of large organizations with complex policies."
"Policy analysis can be divided into two major fields: - Analysis of existing policy, which is analytical and descriptive... - Analysis for new policy, which is prescriptive..."
"It attempts to explain policies and their development."
"It is involved with formulating policies and proposals (for example: to improve social welfare)."
"Policy Analysis is the process of identifying potential policy options that could address your problem and then comparing those options to choose the most effective, efficient, and feasible one."
"Policy analysis is frequently deployed in the public sector..."
"...is equally applicable elsewhere, such as nonprofit organizations and non-governmental organizations."
"Policy analysis has its roots in systems analysis..."
"...an approach used by United States Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara in the 1960s."
"A combination of two kinds of policy analyses together with program evaluation is defined as policy studies."
"The areas of interest and the purpose of analysis determine what types of analysis are conducted."
"...a technique used in the public administration sub-field of political science..."
"...nonprofit organizations, and others to examine and evaluate the available options..."
"Analysis for new policy is involved with formulating policies and proposals (for example: to improve social welfare)."
"The process of 'determining which of various policies will achieve a given set of goals in light of the relations between the policies and the goals.'"
"...enable civil servants, nonprofit organizations, and others to examine and evaluate the available options to implement the goals of laws and elected officials."