Question

Policy-making and its subsequent implementation are necessary to deal with societal problems

Need 400 words discussion

Answer 1

Governments will always face difficult policy choices, even in times of peace and prosperity, and will be judged on the outcomes they produce. Policy decision taken at all levels (supra-national, national, regional and local) will shape the strength of economic renewal and social well-being in the EU in the coming years. This theme poses a series of questions: How is policy designed in practice? What instruments are available? How can more creative solutions be found? In seeking answers, it explores the qualities of good policy-making, approaches to longer-term strategic planning, stakeholder consultation and the advent of co-responsibility with citizens and businesses (co-design, co-production, co-evaluation, etc.). It also sets out tools and techniques for regulatory reform. In pursuing continuous improvement, it emphasises the importance of systematic feedback, the value of external scrutiny in driving up standards, and innovation in its myriad forms.

Policy-making is usually described as a cyclical process, from problem identification to programme evaluation, which in turn informs the next round of policy design. But the lack of a consensus definition reflects the reality that policy-making is a flexible concept, which in practice does not follow rigid rules. Decision-making should be underpinned by certain principles, however, that can be applied whatever the context. While unexpected events mean that policy-making is sometimes sporadic and reactive (policy ‘on the hoof’), governments also face demographic, economic and environmental challenges which extend beyond the short term, and often demand pan-European or global solutions. In this light, many public administrations are finding the time and space for forward policy planning over medium-long term horizons, covering more than one electoral cycle. They are also increasingly looking to actively involve citizens and businesses in policy-making, rather than as the passive recipients of policy decisions. The ‘policy cycle’ is a well-established concept, which is typically taught as the rational model of policy decision-making. While some version set out more or fewer stages to the process than others, and the terminology and may vary, the basic sequence of stages follows a common pattern