MPA 502: Public Policy and Political Economy Analysis (core)

The aim of the module is to equip students with knowledge, expertise and skills to address public policy challenges in order to achieve sustainable economic, social and political development. Public Policy and Political Economy Analysis is inspired by the realization that policy making does not occur in a vacuum. It takes place amidst political, economic and social environments in which different stakeholders, operating within a changing institutional context, interact strategically as they pursue conflicting interests. In particular, Political Economy Analysis provides a set of tools to diagnose and analyze the factors and evaluate the feasible space for policy change when designing projects for an optimal chance of success.

Intended Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, students should be able to:

  • Analyze the political environment of public policy making including formulating effective strategies for policy analysis, programme evaluation, policy design and policy advocacy.
  • Demonstrate how political, economic and social factors may work to shape incentives and facilitate or impede collective action.
  • Apply theory to significant real problems confronting government and society.
  • Conduct independent public policy and political economy analysis as well as develop clear and effective communication skills as an integral part of the course.

Introduction

  • Meaning and scope of Public Policy and Political Economy Analysis
  • Key terms in Public Policy and Political Economy Analysis
  • Rationale for Public Policy and Political Economy Analysis
  1. Policy processes
  • Context for policy making
  • Stages in policy making
  • Models of policy making
  1. The politics of policy processes
  • Traditional and contemporary perspectives of policy making
  • Theories of state and policy making
  • The policy process as the complex system
  1. Policy formulation
  • Key aspects of policy formulation
  • Civil servants and policy formulation
  • Interface between policy formulation and implantation
  • Key issues and challenges in policy formulation
  1. Policy implementation
  • Models of policy implementation
    • Top down model
    • Bottom up model
  • Role of administrative systems
  • Influences of policy implementation
  1. Emerging issues in policy processes
  • Role of ideas in policy processes
  • Policy processes in the age of governance
  • Dynamics of policy transfer
  • Policy process at the street level
  • Power and public policy: towards Political Economy Analysis
  1. Political economy analysis in perspective
  • Key features of political economy analysis
  • Uniqueness and distinctiveness of political economy analysis
  • An institutional approach to political economy analysis
  1. Conducting political economy analysis
  • Descriptive versus inferential political economy analysis
  • Levels of political economy analysis
  • Frameworks of political economy analysis
  • Strategies for political economy analysis
  • Communicating political economy analysis results
  1. Relationship between public policy and political economy analysis
  • Political economy analysis as an approach to public policy analysis
  • Relevance of game theory and rents in public policy and political economy analysis
  • Role of bureaucracy in formulation and implementation of public policy
  • Factors influencing successful implementation of policy
  • Factors influencing formulation of successful public policy
  1. Practical cases in policy processes and political economy analysis

Assessment:

  • Continuous assessment:          50 %
  • Examinations:                           50 %

Teaching and Learning Methods:

  • Lectures
  • Tutorials
  • Staff-Students seminars

Prescribed Texts:

Kraft, M., and Furlong, S., (2008) Public Policy: Politics, Analysis and Alternatives (2nd Edition): CQ Press, Washington DC

Munger, M., (2000) Analyzing Policy: Choices, Conflicts and Practice: W.W Norton Company, New York

Howlet, M., Ramesh, M., and Perl, A., (2003) Studying Public Policy: Policy Cycles and Sub-Systems (3rd Edition): Oxford University Press, Canada

Kingdon, J., (2003) Agendas, Alternatives and Public Policies (2nd Edition): Longman, New York

Huci, C., Hamilton, A., and Ferrer, I., (2013) Understanding Policy Change: How to Apply Political Economy Concepts in Practice: The World Bank, Washington

Weingast, B.R, and Wittman, D.A., (2006) (Ed.) The Oxford Handbook of Political Economy: Oxford University Place, Oxford.'

Hill, M., (2013) The Public Policy Process (6th Edition): Pearson Education Limited, England

Cairney, P., (2012) Understanding Public Policy: Theories and Issues: Palgrave MacMillan

Recommended Texts

Sowell, T., (2007) A Conflict of Visions: Ideological Origins of Political Struggles: Basic Books

White, L., (2012) The Clash of Economic Ideas: The Great Policy Debates and Experiments of the Last Hundred Years: Cambridge University Press

Leighton, W., and Lopez, E., (2013) Madmen, Intellectuals, and Academic Scribblers: The Economic Engine of Political Change: Cambridge University Press, New York

Acemoglu, D., and Robinson, J., (2012) Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty: Crown Press

Published Apr. 17, 2015 4:55 PM - Last modified Oct. 28, 2020 11:22 AM