Policy Analysis and Evaluation
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
In comparative terms, the Italian government and policy-making is an example of low analytical capacity - in particular regarding the ability to use data - and of ineffective implementation of public policies. The scientific analysis and the evaluation of public policies offer the tools to reduce this gap, by teaching evidence-based policy-making, coherent policy design, and effective monitoring of the implementation in different policy fields. This course concentrates not only on individual or organizational performance, and on laws or regulations, but also on the processes spreading from the design, the implementation and the evaluation of policies, focusing on how public policies can solve problems that nor citizens nor the market would otherwise solve. The first goal of this course is to offer the methodological skills for the expert, independent and responsible evaluation of public policies. The second goal attains to the understanding of the usefulness of evaluation for the amelioration of the governance in contemporary political systems, by means of understanding mistakes and failures in order to positively affect accountability and policy learning. Finally, the course will offer a realistic picture of the resistance and the skepticism to the professional evaluation of public policies coming from both policy-takers and policy-makers.
Expected learning outcomes
The course aims to provide different outcomes and related skills, such as a) Knowledge and understanding: Provide a balanced and coherent map of theoretical and methodological major perspectives underlying the policy design, implementation and evaluation; Distinguish and integrate descriptive and prescriptive approaches to the policy-making; b) Applying knowledge and understanding: Produce an analysis of a specific policy problem through collaborative group work; c) Making judgements: Read and critique an existing example of policy analysis produced by a public watchdog institution; d) Communication skills: Prepare a short, concise presentation and provide policy recommendations with a clear set of well-documented arguments.
Lesson period: First trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First trimester
Course syllabus
Module one
The approaches of the policy studies
Evolution of the study of public policies
Rational analysis
Policy inquiry
Module 2
Theories of policy-making
Public choice
A integrated approach for the policy studies
Module three
Mapping types of evaluation
The counterfactual approach and the logic of experimental methods
The institutionalisation of the evaluation of public policies
The approaches of the policy studies
Evolution of the study of public policies
Rational analysis
Policy inquiry
Module 2
Theories of policy-making
Public choice
A integrated approach for the policy studies
Module three
Mapping types of evaluation
The counterfactual approach and the logic of experimental methods
The institutionalisation of the evaluation of public policies
Prerequisites for admission
Students are advised to have previously attended these courses: Performance Assessment and Social Research; Data analysis; Theories and Research Methods for Public Administrations
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons on the topics of the program
Discussion of examples of evaluation studies and of meta-evaluation reports
Presentation of a teamwork based on the analysis and the evaluation of a public policy
Discussion of examples of evaluation studies and of meta-evaluation reports
Presentation of a teamwork based on the analysis and the evaluation of a public policy
Teaching Resources
Attending students:
Module 1 (attending students):
1. Regonini, Gloria (2001), Capire le politiche pubbliche, Il Mulino, Bologna, capitoli 1,2,3,4. The text in Italian can be dowloaded here: http://www.politichepubbliche.org/base/capirelepolitiche.html ; in alternative, (English text): Frank Fischer, Gerald J. Miller, and Mara S. Sidney (eds.) (2007), Handbook of Public Policy Analysis: Theory, Politics, and Methods, CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton, FL, reperibile per il download online
2. slides and notes from the lessons
Module 2 (attending students):
1. Regonini, Gloria (2001), Capire le politiche pubbliche, Il Mulino, Bologna, chapter 5, a selection of the topic of chapter 6 as presented in the slides. The text in Italian can be dowloaded here: http://www.politichepubbliche.org/base/capirelepolitiche.html ; in alternative, (English text): Frank Fischer, Gerald J. Miller, and Mara S. Sidney (eds.) (2007), Handbook of Public Policy Analysis: Theory, Politics, and Methods, CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton, FL, reperibile per il download online
2. slides and notes from the lessons
Module 3 (attending students):
1. Trivellato, Ugo (2009), La valutazione degli effetti di politiche pubbliche: paradigma e pratiche, Working Paper No. 2009-01, IRVAPP, https://irvapp.fbk.eu/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/FBK-IRVAPP-Working-Paper-No.-2009_01-2.pdf
2. slides and notes from the lessons
Not attenting students:
Module 1 (not attending):
1. Regonini, Gloria (2001), Capire le politiche pubbliche, Il Mulino, Bologna, capitoli 1,2,3,4. the text in Italian can be dowloaded here: http://www.politichepubbliche.org/base/capirelepolitiche.html ; the alternative text, published in English, is: Frank Fischer, Gerald J. Miller, and Mara S. Sidney (eds.) (2007), Handbook of Public Policy Analysis: Theory, Politics, and Methods, CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton, FL
2. Di Mascio F., Natalini A., Profeti S., (2022), Administrative reforms in the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan: a selective approach to bridge the capacity gap, Contemporary Italian Politics, (14)4: 487-501
Module 2 (not attending):
1. Regonini, Gloria (2001), Capire le politiche pubbliche, Il Mulino, Bologna, chapters 5 and 6. http://www.politichepubbliche.org/base/capirelepolitiche.html or Frank Fischer, Gerald J. Miller, and Mara S. Sidney (eds.) (2007), Handbook of Public Policy Analysis: Theory, Politics, and Methods, CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton, FL,
2. Vesan P. (2020), Le politiche del lavoro: tra cambiamenti radicali e riforme incompiute, in Capano G. e Natalini A. (eds) 2020, Le Politiche Pubbliche in Italia, Bologna, Il Mulino, pp. 111-128
Module 3 (not attending):
1. Trivellato, Ugo (2009), La valutazione degli effetti di politiche pubbliche: paradigma e pratiche, Working Paper No. 2009-01, IRVAPP, https://irvapp.fbk.eu/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/FBK-IRVAPP-Working-Paper-No.-2009_01-2.pdf
2. Regonini, G. (2017). Governmentalities without policy capacity. Policy Sciences, 50(2), 163-178
Module 1 (attending students):
1. Regonini, Gloria (2001), Capire le politiche pubbliche, Il Mulino, Bologna, capitoli 1,2,3,4. The text in Italian can be dowloaded here: http://www.politichepubbliche.org/base/capirelepolitiche.html ; in alternative, (English text): Frank Fischer, Gerald J. Miller, and Mara S. Sidney (eds.) (2007), Handbook of Public Policy Analysis: Theory, Politics, and Methods, CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton, FL, reperibile per il download online
2. slides and notes from the lessons
Module 2 (attending students):
1. Regonini, Gloria (2001), Capire le politiche pubbliche, Il Mulino, Bologna, chapter 5, a selection of the topic of chapter 6 as presented in the slides. The text in Italian can be dowloaded here: http://www.politichepubbliche.org/base/capirelepolitiche.html ; in alternative, (English text): Frank Fischer, Gerald J. Miller, and Mara S. Sidney (eds.) (2007), Handbook of Public Policy Analysis: Theory, Politics, and Methods, CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton, FL, reperibile per il download online
2. slides and notes from the lessons
Module 3 (attending students):
1. Trivellato, Ugo (2009), La valutazione degli effetti di politiche pubbliche: paradigma e pratiche, Working Paper No. 2009-01, IRVAPP, https://irvapp.fbk.eu/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/FBK-IRVAPP-Working-Paper-No.-2009_01-2.pdf
2. slides and notes from the lessons
Not attenting students:
Module 1 (not attending):
1. Regonini, Gloria (2001), Capire le politiche pubbliche, Il Mulino, Bologna, capitoli 1,2,3,4. the text in Italian can be dowloaded here: http://www.politichepubbliche.org/base/capirelepolitiche.html ; the alternative text, published in English, is: Frank Fischer, Gerald J. Miller, and Mara S. Sidney (eds.) (2007), Handbook of Public Policy Analysis: Theory, Politics, and Methods, CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton, FL
2. Di Mascio F., Natalini A., Profeti S., (2022), Administrative reforms in the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan: a selective approach to bridge the capacity gap, Contemporary Italian Politics, (14)4: 487-501
Module 2 (not attending):
1. Regonini, Gloria (2001), Capire le politiche pubbliche, Il Mulino, Bologna, chapters 5 and 6. http://www.politichepubbliche.org/base/capirelepolitiche.html or Frank Fischer, Gerald J. Miller, and Mara S. Sidney (eds.) (2007), Handbook of Public Policy Analysis: Theory, Politics, and Methods, CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton, FL,
2. Vesan P. (2020), Le politiche del lavoro: tra cambiamenti radicali e riforme incompiute, in Capano G. e Natalini A. (eds) 2020, Le Politiche Pubbliche in Italia, Bologna, Il Mulino, pp. 111-128
Module 3 (not attending):
1. Trivellato, Ugo (2009), La valutazione degli effetti di politiche pubbliche: paradigma e pratiche, Working Paper No. 2009-01, IRVAPP, https://irvapp.fbk.eu/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/FBK-IRVAPP-Working-Paper-No.-2009_01-2.pdf
2. Regonini, G. (2017). Governmentalities without policy capacity. Policy Sciences, 50(2), 163-178
Assessment methods and Criteria
For attending students, the final score will result from this scheme:
- first test: teamwork based on a case study (50% of the total score)
- final test: discussion about the texts of the program (50% of the total score)
Active and constructive participation to class lectures will also count for the determination of the final score.
For not attending students, the oral exams consists of at least three questions from the program specified for non attending students. The oral exam could be undertaken in English, upon request.
- first test: teamwork based on a case study (50% of the total score)
- final test: discussion about the texts of the program (50% of the total score)
Active and constructive participation to class lectures will also count for the determination of the final score.
For not attending students, the oral exams consists of at least three questions from the program specified for non attending students. The oral exam could be undertaken in English, upon request.
SPS/04 - POLITICAL SCIENCE - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Galanti Maria Tullia
Shifts:
Turno
Professor:
Galanti Maria TulliaEducational website(s)
Professor(s)