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PBAF 513

PBAF 513. Week 4. A Look Forward…. Week 4: Policy Options/Management Tools^ Week 5: GAO guests [Problem Def Memo Due] *clarity/grammar are important* Summarize important background info Provide appropriate history & context

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PBAF 513

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  1. PBAF 513 Week 4

  2. A Look Forward… • Week 4: Policy Options/Management Tools^ • Week 5: GAO guests • [Problem Def Memo Due] *clarity/grammar are important* • Summarize important background info • Provide appropriate history & context • Reader should be able to assess the nature, distribution, and severity of the problem (use data/chart to show) • Provides an underlying model of the problem • Appendix re: client, if necessary/helpful • Week 6: Evaluating/Tradeoffs • [Criteria/Options Workshop]^ • Week 7: Institutions/Uncertainty • [Criteria & Options Memo Due] • Week 8: Policy, Politics, Public • [Matrix Workshop]^ • Weeks 9-10: Presentations • Final Partnership Memo Due ^ case memo due

  3. A Look Back… • Effectively articulate problem & solutions • Not persuasion per se, but smooth, balanced analytical style (which means free of jargon, logically connected, and not just focused on your favorite things) • Rigorously consider pros/cons of alternatives • Problem definition is key (model/theory & evidence) • Leads to specific criteria • Abstract goals/objectives • Specific criteria--show all the important impacts of the potential options

  4. Policy Options/Alternatives • Where do they come from? • Which should you include? • How much detail? • Must they be mutually exclusive?

  5. First: • Using the Matrix handout-- • Write down 3 objectives/criteria for the Zimbabwe case & why you chose those. • Brainstorm generic types of tools • 4 minutes.

  6. Generic tools… Supply-side? Demand-side? Type of good? • Type & level of Target? • Individuals • Industry (or other entity) • Bureaucracy (local, state, fed) • Mandates—rules/regulations • Inducements—carrots/sticks a.k.a. subsidize/tax • Capacity-building—money, info, tech, resources (future investment) • System-changing—authority, institutions(structuring rights, markets) • Insurance/cushions Where does direct service provision fall? Contracted provision?

  7. Bardach: Things governments do • Taxes • Regulation • Subsidies and Grants • Service Provision • Information • Structure Private Rights • Affect Economic Activity • Provide Education and Consultation • Financing and Contracting • Bureaucratic and Political Reforms

  8. Small Groups: Zimbabwe Case • What is the main policy problem? • Options given—are these the “right” ones? • How do we pare down list (should we)? • How decide? • Why are these the right options? • Combine options? How decide which to choose? • Consider other options? • Evaluation—what would you pick? Handout*

  9. Zimbabwe Alternatives Note: Some approaches have more than on tool Fill out generic strengths and weaknesses for each tool ***Fill out back of Worksheet too***

  10. Policy Options/Management Tools • What are Policy Options? • Generic vs. Specific • Where can you find alternatives? • How many should you choose? • How can you think about combos?

  11. Why start with generic tools? • Generic tools are logical solutions to generic problems (market failures, government failures, institutional challenges • Generic tools have well known strengths and weaknesses that we can anticipate and work to off-set • Generic tools have track records that we can use to predict costs and impacts • Generic tools are the foundation for “tinkering” and “adapting” • Caution re: using stock solutions & not adapting! Link to specific tools—matrix for Zimbabwe

  12. Where do Options come from? • Status Quo or improved version • Alternatives already on the “on the table” • “Smart practices” from other places (use Mintrom’s comparative institutional analysis) • Tinkered policies by moving your client’s levers or “instruments” (Peter May) • Off-the-shelf Generic tools (e.g., Bardach, Mintrom, Weimer and Vining generic policies) • Creative new ideas

  13. Generic Policy Options/Alternatives • Range of general strategiesthat can be taken • Must be tailored to specific circumstances to produce viable policy alternatives (context, complexity) [incremental vs. large reform] • General Categories [Weimer and Vining (p210)]: • Freeing, facilitating, and simulating markets • Using taxes and subsidies to alter incentives • Establishing rules • Supply goods through nonmarket mechanisms • Providing insurance and cushions (economic protection)

  14. Generic tools… Supply-side? Demand-side? Type of good/service? • Type & level of Target? • Individuals • Industry (or other entity) • Bureaucracy (local, state, fed) • Mandates—rules/regulations • Inducements—carrots/sticks a.k.a. subsidize/tax • Capacity-building—money, info, tech, resources (future investment) • System-changing—authority, institutions(structuring rights, markets) • Insurance/cushions Where does direct service provision fall? Contracted provision?

  15. Rules command behavior • Framework rules-facilitate private choice in markets • Civil Law: Contract law, Liability, Negligence • Criminal Law • Regulation-alter choices (compliance & monitoring) • Prices (cable tv rates, health insurance premiums) • Quantity (pollutants, Prohibition) • Direct info provision (disclosure & labeling—cigarettes, food) • Indirect info provision (registration, certification, licensing—Nursing Homes, Midwives, Contractors) • Choice Architecture (Thaler & Sunstein 2008—opt-in vs. opt-out schemes, ordering of food options)

  16. Taxes~ & Subsidies induce behavior Taxes to raise the private cost of things that are too abundant & Subsidies to lower the cost of those too scarce: supply- vs demand-side • SST: Output tax (industry pollution, profit tax) • SST: Tariff (tax on import/export||nonT barriers) • SSS: Matching grant (state block grants) • SSS: Tax expenditure (business deduction/credit) • DST: Commodity taxes (ROH, cig) & user fees (license fees, tolls) • DSS: In-kind subsidies (distribute surplus cheese) • DSS: Vouchers (food stamps, education, housing)—purchase market goods at reduced $ • DSS: Tax expenditure (personal deduction/credit—mortgage or educational loan deductions)

  17. Market failure or redistributive goal & no other policy works Government Provision • Managing/Implementing/Facilitating commerce, taxes & subsidies, & rules (laws/justice) • Managing public lands & other property • Constructing public works • Research & testing • Technical assistance & training • Social services (health care, education, etc.) • Direct cash assistance • Marketing • Supporting internal administrative needs Bureaus, Gov’t corporations, special districts, direct contracting, non-profits, independent agencies

  18. Market-based Options • Free Markets • Deregulate (T-com, trucking, banking, air) • Legalize (gambling, prostitution) • Privatize (utilities, RR, liquor) • Facilitate Markets • Allocation through property rights (water rights) • Create new marketable goods (cap & trade (instead of emissions regulation, for instance—create tradable permits & put in a cap on total #: fisheries, air pollution control, land use control, water allocation) • Simulate Markets (Gov’t Still Involved) • Auctions (Liquor Permits for stores in WA) Efficacy is based on premise that there isn’t a market failure

  19. Insurance & Cushions insurance spreads risk & cushions reduce outcome variance • Mandatory insurance (auto insurance, HEALTH) • Subsidized insurance (disaster insurance) • Stockpiling (strategic materials—oil, minerals, $) • Transitional assistance (unemployment) • Cash grants (welfare, SSI)

  20. Nonprofittools: • Advocacy • Direct service • Grant-making • Education/training • Collaboration/convening • Information provision • Public marketing/social media use

  21. How much detail? • Enough to distinguish between options • Enough to address concerns, but the least needed to provide the vision • How much detail do you need to understand the impacts? [What are key elements?] • How much time do you have to do analysis?

  22. Do they need to be mutually exclusive? • Yes. You must evaluate the package, not add the expected outcomes of two separate options together. • If any synergies are possible between actions, then yes. • Is sequencing important? • What’s your model/logic/theory???

  23. Policy alternatives: Do find good/better (not BEST) alternatives—ways to improve the situation tailored to the levers available (manipulable factors) Don’t forget to think about the logistics of implementation (top down, bottom up) Don’t compare to straw men—”Usually the strength of an analysis is not the search for the answer (which rarely exists) but the illumination of the differences between contending responses to problems” (May) Do consider packages/portfolios of instruments as contending “alternatives”/”strategies” (combine & recombine—start with separate, though)

  24. Words of Caution • More studies as an alternative? • If decide not to include some, tell reader why • How did you screen? • Complexities, Interactions, Dynamics, Contingencies, Aligning incentives, implementing rules, ….all sorts of issues can crop up • Alternatives to address symptoms vs. root causes

  25. Next Time • GAO Speaker, Heather MacLeod (do research) • Problem Definition Memo Due • Following week: last case memo available: • Your boss, Secretary of DSHS, Susan Dreyfus, has asked you to provide her with a recommendation as to how DSHS should invest in prevention programs for child welfare. Use the WSIPP (the most up-to-date version) to write a memo to your boss. Use WSIPP update (earlier version there for info) SEE CATALYST • Guests: Tyler Scott & MariekaKlawitter • MintromCh 13 AND 14 OR 15 • Hatry & Whittington readings • Optional: Urban Institute Report & earlier WSIPP analysis • Criteria & Alternatives WORKSHOP—bring 4 copies of unfilled matrix that summarizes your criteria & options

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