Question

Australia has been a world leader in using 'healthy public policy approaches' such as legislation and taxation to address tobacco consumption. Since the 1990s, our policy measures have led to significant smoking decline across Australia. Using one of the several tobacco control policies in Australia, describe each of the following phases of Walt’s (1994) policy making framework as stated in Baum (2016; Chapter 24: Healthy Public Policy, p 620-621):
a. Problem identification and issue recognition
b. Policy formulation
c. Policy implementation
d. Policy evaluation
Word limit = 500 words
Note: You can use innovative ways to present this response

Answer 1

#. Policy cycle model

Used to simplify the complex policy making processes in the real world for analytical convenience.

Agenda setting-- policy formation-- policy adoption--implementation--evaluation

1. Agenda setting

Identification of public problem requiring state intervention.

Problems are not given but defined e.g. fertility decline and policy responses

Important source of power- first mover advantage.

Politicians, bureaucrats, mass media, and interest groups.

Ability to exclude societal problems from the policy agenda is also an important source of power.

Highly contested process.

2. Policy formulation and adoption

Formulation- concrete proposals are developed, discussed and accepted/rejected.

Adoption- proposals officially become laws, regulation etc.

e.g. UK- political parties, departments, legislative committees, interest groups.

3. Policy implementation

Conversion of new laws/programmes into practice.

Capacity of state/bureaucracy is crucial.

Deviations in policy goals and coordination problems undermines effective implementation.

The longer the implementation chain and the greater the number of actors involved in the process, the more difficult implementation becomes.

4. Evaluation

Examines whether a given public policy has attained intended goals.

Provides feedback loop- powerful tool of policy making process.

Cost-benefit analysis- 2 sides of quantification, economic evaluation