Public policies are decisions, laws, regulations, commitments, and actions made by the government (Gerston, 2010, p.7). Welfare on the other hand involves programs that are geared to assist marginalized people to obtain a decent income or services; target groups for welfare are elderly people, disabled or poor people. Public policies are government approach to tackle a public problem; this is done by federal, local, or state governments through regulations, decisions, and actions.
These policies are influenced by politics of the current regime and the economic situation. However, the welfare policies have undergone transformation since their first establishment. The various issues addressed by public policy are “crime, education, foreign policy, health, and social welfare. Primarily, there are several types of welfare, social welfare, social security, financial aid, or corporate welfare” (Gerston, 2010, p.7).
The federal government has limited role in welfare policies; many important functions are held by the “States governments including public assistance, social care and various health schemes” (Herrick & Stuart, 2005, p.30).
The great depression of 1929, which led to dramatic rise to poverty, ignited the federal government to respond and alleviate the problems (Herrick & Stuart, 2005, p.30). This paper illustrates the scope and nature of problems facing the welfare public policy, its evolution, evaluates the policies and suggests directions that the government should take in setting policies.
The scope and nature of the public policy problem
The public policy problems are wicked in nature, as they do not have clarity traits and have comprehensive impact, hence difficult to solve (Gerston, 2010, p.9). They are not well defined and they are rarely solved. Wicked problems cannot be definitively defined, hence they cannot be formulated.
Additionally, wicked problems do not have stopping criteria, while the policymakers cannot assess when a problem has ended or solved. In addition, there are no immediate and sound tests to weigh the viability of a solution to wicked problems, making the choice of solution difficult as various solutions spark a range of consequences over duration of time.
The probable solutions to these problems are not enumerable and cannot be described exhaustively. Finally, wicked problems are usually an indication of other underlying problems (Biggs & Helms, 2007, p.19). Nevertheless, the best way to handle wicked problems is by replacing them with other problems or less wicked problems.
The scope of public policy problem is large and is ever expanding; however, not all problems in the public domain are addressed by public policies. The line between public and non-public problems is not well defined and a subject of controversy exists. Primarily, the scope of public policy problem is broadening to include more problems that are arising from policy outcomes. Policy makers are dealing with problems that resulted from policies that they made previously (Biggs & Helms, 2007, p.17).
The evolution of public policy
The first welfare policies were introduced in the 1930s; these policies have undergone consolidation, transformation, and expansion (Ubiergo, 2007, p.25). The federalism has undergone several major changes, the chief change being the shift of policy making from the national level (Gerston, 2010, p.14).
The central and or federal government in the past played an important role in provision of welfare services. In 1930, the federal state was involved in welfare projects, for instance, Roosevelt administration “laid foundations for the social security system, and the “War on Poverty” of the 1960s, which provided some important benefits” namely health care for people on low incomes (Gerston, 2010, p.14).
Presently, the federal state has a limited role in welfare activities as the state and local governments are tasked with these duties. A key indicator of development of welfare public policies is the amount of money being spent.
Citizens have roles in participating in public policy through their state or local governments. These governments have referenda through which citizens can vote on policy proposals (Gerston, 2010, p.14). However, there have been changes in the eligibility of welfare projects – government policies regulate the persons eligible and the length of duration one can access these benefits.
Evaluation of policy, the actors involved
Once policies have been enacted, they are constantly evaluated by citizens, media, and legislators formally or informally. Evaluation is a means of obtaining feedback and the two main approaches of evaluating a policy are through analyzing the process and its outcomes (Biggs & Helms, 2007, p.239). The success of policies is determined by the outcome consequences; thus, the policy makers should set an evaluation scheme that can be used to analyze whether a policy has attained its intended purpose.
Evaluation of policies is influenced by politics; people who do not support a policy cannot give an objective evaluation. In addition, evaluation is influenced by the technicality of the policy. Proper evaluation should consider the consequences of a policy both intended and unintended.
The intended consequences are the set out goals the policymakers aimed to achieve by setting the policy, while unintended consequences are outcome not aimed at by policymakers. There might be need to change a policy if the desired goals are not being met using a particular policy (Marzotto, Burnor & Bonham, 2000, p.11).
The public have a major role in policymaking, but only a few individuals or groups are concerned with the issue. The public should be involved in defining problems that should be addressed through public policies, evaluating the progress of policies enacted (Woll, 1982, p.9). The reasons why the public does not engage in public policy are lack of information, motivation, or time. The actors involved in public policy evaluation are public, professionals, and policymakers.
The public have capacity to propel a personal problem to public issues, prompting the policymakers to address the issues (Gerston, 2010, p.8). The regulatory agencies participate actively in public policy, making and influencing the government to take up public issues. On its part, the judicial segment contributes to the policymaking by interpreting laws.
In addition, the judiciary settles conflicts when lower forms of governments create policies that are not consistent with the federal policies. On the other hand, the legislators are the persons with prominent role in policy-making; they are elected by the citizens to represent them at local or state levels of government.
The intergovernmental structure and political concerns
The federal system of government comprises of other smaller levels of governments: national, state and local. With this kind of system, intergovernmental relation is certain i.e. sharing of policy-making functions and responsibilities (Gerston, 2010, p.13).
In all levels of intergovernmental structure, policymaking is done by majority consensus. This mode creates stalling of policies that are not supported by majority. The intergovernmental structure is set to ensure that programs and policies do not overlap, hence reduce redundancy. In addition, the interest of the public is met by a certain government.
The federal state has decentralized the duties of policies making to the local and state governments who are close to the public concerns. Moreover, the local and state governments are more involved with policymaking than the national and federal governments (Ryskamp, 2010).
When formulating new policies there are political concerns that may arise, in effect of how the policy will affect the economy and the population. Welfare public policy brings majoritarian politics, as the costs and benefits of the policy are widely distributed. For instance, all members of the society pay their social security taxes and benefit from the scheme.
The major concern of this political concern is the benefits and costs resulting from policies. On the other hand, interest group is the other political concern, the beneficial group, the payers are relatively smaller, and the benefits and costs are concentrated. Moreover, the interests of both groups; beneficiaries and payees are highly mobilized hence generating severe differences.
The approaches to policy setting
There are several models used to set policies namely classical, group theory, system theory, elite theory, and the liberal democratic model (Woll, 1982, p.21). In addition, there are three parts to policy setting: “problem identification, players involved, and the policies” whereby, the problem is the issue that needs to be addressed; the player is the “individual or group that is influential in forming a plan to address the problem in question”; and policy is the finalized course of action decided upon by the government (Woll, 1982, p.21).
There are many problems in the public domain, but only a few attain the status of being addressed through public policies. In problem identification, the crucial element is determination of which problems to address though public policy and the costs associated (Gerston, 2010, p.8).
It is paramount to make out players and government structures that can facilitate in policy setting. Lastly, selection of the government that is best placed to enforce the necessary policies. Policy can be set horizontally, where there are other agencies working with the government. Alternatively, policies are developed vertically: where only one level of government developed the policies.
The suggested policy direction that is supported by research
The government should increase its involvement in public policy as it is increasing the quality of life of people. The policies should be modified to empower the persons who benefit rather than creating dependency.
This can be done by creating economic opportunities, standardization of healthcare insurance and better frameworks of social security. Having clear guidelines on eligibility for entitlements and the duration one can benefit from welfare public policies. The persons should be encouraged to be responsible and not rely on the government support.
Conclusion
Public policies are government approaches to tackle a public problem; this is done by federal, local, or state governments through regulations, decisions, and actions. This makes it difficult to tackle and alleviate it, besides the scope of the problem is expanding to new directions. The public policy has evolved since it was set up, with the chief change being the involvement of the federal state in the formulation of policies.
Another change is the inclusion of citizens in the decision making regarding policymaking. There have been changes in the eligibility of welfare projects, government policies regulate the persons eligible and the length of duration one can access these benefits. Moreover, the federal state has decentralized the duties of policies making to the local and state governments who are close to the public concerns.
References
Biggs, S. & Helms, L. (2007). The practice of American public policymaking. New York: M.E. Sharpe SharpeLtd.
Gerston, L. (2010). Public policy making: process and principles. New York: M.E. Sharpe SharpeLtd.
Herrick, J. & Stuart, P. (2005). Encyclopedia of social welfare in North America. California: SAGE.
Marzotto, T., Burnor, V. & Bonham, G. (2000). The evolution of public policy: cars and the environment. Colorado: Lynne Rienner Publishers.
Ryskamp, D. (2010). How Intergovernmental Relations Affect Public Policy. Web.
Ubiergo, A. (2007). The political economy of the welfare state in Latin America: globalization, democracy, and development. NY: Cambridge University Press.
Woll, P. (1982). Public policy. New York: University Press of America.