The Policy Design Primer: Choosing the Right Tools for the Job (Routledge Textbooks in Policy Studies)

The Policy Design Primer is a concise and practical introduction to the principles and elements of policy design in contemporary governance. Guiding students through the study of the instruments used by governments in carrying out their tasks, adapting to, and altering their environments, this book: Examines the range of substantive and procedural policy instruments that together comprise the toolbox from which governments select specific tools expected to resolve policy problems, Considers the principles behind the selection and use of specific types of instruments in contemporary government, Addresses the issues of instrument mixes and their (re)design in a discussion of the future research agenda of policy design and Discusses several current trends in instrument use often linked to factors such as globalization and the increasingly networked nature of modern society. This readily digestible and informative book provides a comprehensive overview of this essential component of modern governance, featuring helpful definitions of key concepts and further reading. This book is essential reading for all students of public policy, administration and management as well as more broadly for relevant courses in health, social welfare, environment, development and local government, in addition to those managers and practitioners involved in Executive Education and policy design work on the ground. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Contents List of figures List of tables Preface Acknowledgements PART I: Policy design in the modern state 1 Basic concepts and vocabulary The tools orientation towards policy design: authoritative instrumentalism What is public policy? What is policy design? What is a policy instrument? What is an implementation tool? What isn’t policy design? How do designs change? References 2 Systematically studying policy design: the logic of tool use Knowledge limitations affecting policy design Behavioural considerations Improving policy designs through better linking tools, mechanisms and targets Conclusion: policy design as instrumental knowledge mobilization References PART II: Policy tools – the building blocks of policy designs 3 Organizational implementation tools Substantive organizational instruments Direct government Line departments Central support agencies Social and health insurance and pension plans Quasi-governmental organizational forms Public enterprises and other corporate forms Organizational hybrids (alternative service delivery) Partnerships, commissioning and contracting out Commissioning Contracting Non-state and society-based tools: co-production and certification Certification Co-production Procedural organizational instruments Network management tools Staff or central (executive) agencies Tribunals and other quasi-judicial bodies Creating or reorganizing government agencies Establishing analytical units Establishing clientele units Establishing government reviews, ad hoc task forces, commissions, inquiries and public hearings Legislative and executive oversight agencies Conclusion: organizational tools – the forgotten fundamental in policy design studies References 4 Authoritative implementation tools Substantive authoritative instruments Direct government regulation Laws Direct departmental regulation and Independent regulatory commissions Indirect government regulation Delegated professional regulation Voluntary or incentive regulation Market creation and maintenance Procedural authoritative instruments Policy network activation and mobilization tools Sectoral advisory councils Public consultation, stakeholder and consensus conferences Conclusion: regulation – a very flexible instrument References 5 Financial implementation tools Substantive financial instruments Cash-based financial tools Grants, subsidies and user fees Tax- or royalty-based financial instruments Tax- and royalty-based expenditures Excise taxes Cash or tax-equivalent financial tools Preferential procurement Favourable insurance and loan guarantees Vouchers for public services Sales of state assets at below-market prices Procedural financial instruments Financial policy network creation tools Interest group creation Financial network mobilization tools Interest group alteration/manipulation/co-optation Conclusion: treasure – an effective but depletable resource References 6 Information-based implementation tools Substantive informational instruments Information dissemination tools Exhortation and moral suasion Information campaigns Nudges and information-based choice architectures Information and knowledge collection tools Inquiries and commissions Statistical agencies and units Surveys and polling Procedural informational instruments Information release tools Freedom of information and E- or digital government legislation and other initiatives Information release prevention tools Censorship Official secrets acts Privacy and data protection acts Conclusion: information – cost-efficient but often ineffective References PART III: Principles for designing policies and programmes 7 Assembling and evaluating an effective policy design What makes a good policy process: evidence-based policy-making, policy analytical capacity and their links to good policy design What is a superior mix of tools: coherence, consistency and congruence in policy designs Principles of effective policy designs based on the character of tools Parsimonious tool use and the Tinbergen rule Maximizing complementary effects and minimizing counterproductive ones Sequencing: moving up the scale of coercion in instrument choices Utilize coherence, consistency and congruence as measures of the design integrity and superiority of a mix Avoiding over- and under-designing Better matching tools and target behaviours in compliance regimes Designing and assessing policy prototypes through experiments and pilot projects Principles of policy design based on the design context Promoting patching as well as packaging in portfolio design Goodness of fit: the need for designs to match governance mode and policy regime capacities Degrees of freedom in policy designs: matching policy designing and policy designs over time Conclusion: designing for resilience and robustness References Index The Policy Design Primeris A Concise And Practical Introduction To The Principles And Elements Of Policy Design In Contemporary Governance. Guiding Students Through The Study Of The Instruments Used By Governments In Carrying Out Their Tasks, Adapting To, And Altering Their Environments, This Book: Examines The Range Of Substantive And Procedural Policy Instruments That Together Comprise The Toolbox From Which Governments Select Specific Tools Expected To Resolve Policy Problems, Considers The Principles Behind The Selection And Use Of Specific Types Of Instruments In Contemporary Government, Addresses The Issues Of Instrument Mixes And Their (re)design In A Discussion Of The Future Research Agenda Of Policy Design And Discusses Several Current Trends In Instrument Use Often Linked To Factors Such As Globalization And The Increasingly Networked Nature Of Modern Society. This Readily Digestible And Informative Book Provides A Comprehensive Overview Of This Essential Component Of Modern Governance, Featuring Helpful Definitions Of Key Concepts And Further Reading. This Book Is Essential Reading For All Students Of Public Policy, Administration And Management As Well As More Broadly For Relevant Courses In Health, Social Welfare, Environment, Development, And Local Government, In Addition To Those Managers And Practitioners Involved In Executive Education And Policy Design Work On The Ground. Ed To Factors Such As Globalization And The Increasingly Networked Nature Of Modern Society. This Readily Digestible And Informative Book Provides A Comprehensive Overview Of This Essential Component Of Modern Governance, Featuring Helpful Definitions Of Key Concepts And Further Reading. This Book Is Essential Reading For All Students Of Public Policy, Administration And Management As Well As More Broadly For Relevant Courses In Health, Social Welfare, Environment, Development, And Local Government, In Addition To Those Managers And Practitioners Involved In Executive Education And Policy Design Work On The Ground.