POLI 2070
9/11/13
Explaining Policy Choices (cont.), Agenda Setting & Policy Formulation
• Policy formulation
o Asks the ? when the problems are accepted on the agenda, “What should
be done about it?”
o Can be influenced by many elements: rationality, habit, tradition, standard
operating procedures, politics, public opinion
o Basic formulas for attempting to solve problems in U.S.
▪ Economic – regulation rather than gov’t ownership
▪ Social – social insurance & cash transfer programs rather than
delivery of services
o Very few direct links exist that describe the best solution for any policy
problems; often rely on inertia, analogy or intuition
o Who formulates policy?
▪ Public Bureaucracy
• Institution most involved in translating problems to
proposals
• Masters of routine & procedure (also highly specialized
concerning skills of bureaucrats); this knowledge is both
helpful & problematic in translating policy goals to
concrete proposals
• Generally push for self-protectionism (particularly
regarding budget & influence); leads to the adoption of
incrementalism (which has a higher probability of success
& keeps the program in the exiting agency)
• Will act on a problem if given the chance to retain control
of the problem area
▪ Think Tanks & Shadow Cabinets
• Sources of policy formulation that are “organizations of
professional analysts & policy formulators who usually
work on contract for a client in gov’t” (p.84)
• Theoretically greater creativity & innovation than public
bureaucracy
o Agency can guarantee desired answer by choosing
the right think tank
o Think tanks might formulate the desired solution to
guarantee returned business
• Special U.S. think tanks useful to know:
o Brookings Institute (left-leaning)
o American Enterprise Institute (moderate-right-
leading)
o Heritage Foundation (right-leaning)
• Universities can serve a similar function