Public Policy
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
Explore the interdependence between actions taken in the face of problems of collective relevance (policies) and the dynamics of power and consensus in democratic systems (politics)
adopt an interdisciplinary approach to problem analysis and identify the specificity of the policy perspective;
provide theoretical and methodological tools for the analysis and evaluation of policies and the amelioration of problems of collective relevance;
illustrate the main theories for understanding and functioning of public policies as complex phenomena and explain the role of both rational and social actors within them;
discuss and diagnose obstacles to policy implementation;
understand the relevance of institutionalising policy analysis and evaluation in a comparative perspective.
adopt an interdisciplinary approach to problem analysis and identify the specificity of the policy perspective;
provide theoretical and methodological tools for the analysis and evaluation of policies and the amelioration of problems of collective relevance;
illustrate the main theories for understanding and functioning of public policies as complex phenomena and explain the role of both rational and social actors within them;
discuss and diagnose obstacles to policy implementation;
understand the relevance of institutionalising policy analysis and evaluation in a comparative perspective.
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of the course the student will be able to:
recognise the constituent elements of a public policy as a process oriented towards providing solutions to problems of collective relevance
illustrate the main theoretical and methodological approaches in the field of public policy analysis
formulate research questions from a prescriptive perspective and apply analytical tools derived from the study of market and public policy failures
design a path of analysis and evaluation in line with the principles of rational problem solving
identify answers to the main obstacles to policy implementation
apply the main techniques of policy analysis and evaluation to a concrete case study
recognise the constituent elements of a public policy as a process oriented towards providing solutions to problems of collective relevance
illustrate the main theoretical and methodological approaches in the field of public policy analysis
formulate research questions from a prescriptive perspective and apply analytical tools derived from the study of market and public policy failures
design a path of analysis and evaluation in line with the principles of rational problem solving
identify answers to the main obstacles to policy implementation
apply the main techniques of policy analysis and evaluation to a concrete case study
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
The first part of the course includes an introduction with case studies relating to the emergence and development of problems of collective relevance, with the definition of different perspectives on the analysis of audience science.
Furthermore, the first part of the course trains the student to distinguish policy issues in journalistic information, in political and social confrontation, and in everyday experience. Finally, a map is presented for orientation between the different approaches within the discipline.
The second part of the course focuses on policy analysis methods based on economic rationality and the application of problem solving logic. The rational approach to the study of policy proposes a typical approach to analysis:
what is the problem?
what happens if no action is taken?
which solutions can be adopted?
which one promises to give the best results?
what difficulties does the implementation phase hold?
how to monitor and evaluate ex ante, in itinere and ex post the outcomes?
how to decide whether to discontinue or continue the policy?
how to manage the relationship between technical rationality and consensus requirements?
In the third part of the course, the critique of rational policy analysis approaches is used to illustrate theories and lines of research inspired by a different vision of rationality and circularity of policy processes, with particular reference to theories that in policy inquiry describe policies as interactions between partisan interests and policies as complex processes of disconnected incrementalism. At the end of the course, an integration of the lines of research developed by the economic actor and social actor approaches is proposed.
Furthermore, the first part of the course trains the student to distinguish policy issues in journalistic information, in political and social confrontation, and in everyday experience. Finally, a map is presented for orientation between the different approaches within the discipline.
The second part of the course focuses on policy analysis methods based on economic rationality and the application of problem solving logic. The rational approach to the study of policy proposes a typical approach to analysis:
what is the problem?
what happens if no action is taken?
which solutions can be adopted?
which one promises to give the best results?
what difficulties does the implementation phase hold?
how to monitor and evaluate ex ante, in itinere and ex post the outcomes?
how to decide whether to discontinue or continue the policy?
how to manage the relationship between technical rationality and consensus requirements?
In the third part of the course, the critique of rational policy analysis approaches is used to illustrate theories and lines of research inspired by a different vision of rationality and circularity of policy processes, with particular reference to theories that in policy inquiry describe policies as interactions between partisan interests and policies as complex processes of disconnected incrementalism. At the end of the course, an integration of the lines of research developed by the economic actor and social actor approaches is proposed.
Prerequisites for admission
Prerequisites: Political and Administrative Systems (MAPS students)
Political and Administrative Science (MAPPE students)
Learning objectives and expected learning outcomes
Formative objectives
The aim of the course is to illustrate how the study of public policies leads to overcoming a naive view of social processes, emphasising that public policies (politics) present specific obstacles, particular intervention techniques and peculiar resources, completely independent from political perspectives (politics). Tools for analysing and improving public policies will be presented.
Expected learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to understand and identify the specific obstacles, particular intervention techniques and peculiar resources that are characteristic of public policies. The student will be familiar with the theories and tools for analysing, evaluating and improving public policies.
Political and Administrative Science (MAPPE students)
Learning objectives and expected learning outcomes
Formative objectives
The aim of the course is to illustrate how the study of public policies leads to overcoming a naive view of social processes, emphasising that public policies (politics) present specific obstacles, particular intervention techniques and peculiar resources, completely independent from political perspectives (politics). Tools for analysing and improving public policies will be presented.
Expected learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to understand and identify the specific obstacles, particular intervention techniques and peculiar resources that are characteristic of public policies. The student will be familiar with the theories and tools for analysing, evaluating and improving public policies.
Teaching methods
Teaching is delivered in blended learning:
30 hours of face-to-face lectures
20 hours of synchronous online lessons in videoconferencing on the Teams platform
10 hours of asynchronous online lessons in the MyAriel moodle platfomr
The teaching methodology includes: lectures; readings and comments on newspaper and scientific articles; closed or open-ended exercises; examination of case studies.
Registration for the examination is subject to attendance of at least 60% of the lecture hours (i.e. at least 20 hours of face-to-face lectures and at least 20 synchronous/asynchronous online). Attendance at the exam is recorded using the applications and software provided by the university.
30 hours of face-to-face lectures
20 hours of synchronous online lessons in videoconferencing on the Teams platform
10 hours of asynchronous online lessons in the MyAriel moodle platfomr
The teaching methodology includes: lectures; readings and comments on newspaper and scientific articles; closed or open-ended exercises; examination of case studies.
Registration for the examination is subject to attendance of at least 60% of the lecture hours (i.e. at least 20 hours of face-to-face lectures and at least 20 synchronous/asynchronous online). Attendance at the exam is recorded using the applications and software provided by the university.
Teaching Resources
The study is based on the integration of the textbook and the slides presented in class.
The textbook is Regonini G., (2001), Capire le politiche pubbliche, Bologna: il Mulino. The book is no longer in print and is out of print. Regonini has waived the rights and makes the chapters in pdf available to students free of charge.
Students can request them through a simple procedure available from the course website: http://www.politichepubbliche.org/base/capirelepolitiche.html
For exam preparation, the reference material is organised as follows
for the 1st module: Regonini G., (2001), Capire le politiche pubbliche, Bologna: il Mulino, chapter 1; slides of the introduction lectures with analysis of the four public sciences: slides of the lectures on chapter 1
for the 2nd module: Regonini G., (2001), Capire le politiche pubbliche, Bologna: il Mulino, chapter 2 and chapter 3; lecture slides on chapter 2 and chapter 3.
for the 3rd module: Regonini G., (2001), Capire le politiche pubbliche, Bologna: il Mulino, chapter 4, subsections 1 (first definitions), 2 (the establishment of the paradigm), subsections 3.2 (policies as interactions) and 3.3 (policies as processes), subsections 4.2 (mutual adjustment between partisan interests) and 4.3 (disconnected incrementalism); lecture slides on chapter 4.
For non-attending students, the study of the essay by Polverari, L., Piattoni, S., (2022), The Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan and Administrative Capacity: A Real Game Changer?, 'Rivista Italiana di Politiche Pubbliche, Rivista quadrimestrale' 2/2022, pp. 169-189, downloadable free of charge from the online journal of the university library
Further asynchronous lecture materials will be available on MyAriel.
The textbook is Regonini G., (2001), Capire le politiche pubbliche, Bologna: il Mulino. The book is no longer in print and is out of print. Regonini has waived the rights and makes the chapters in pdf available to students free of charge.
Students can request them through a simple procedure available from the course website: http://www.politichepubbliche.org/base/capirelepolitiche.html
For exam preparation, the reference material is organised as follows
for the 1st module: Regonini G., (2001), Capire le politiche pubbliche, Bologna: il Mulino, chapter 1; slides of the introduction lectures with analysis of the four public sciences: slides of the lectures on chapter 1
for the 2nd module: Regonini G., (2001), Capire le politiche pubbliche, Bologna: il Mulino, chapter 2 and chapter 3; lecture slides on chapter 2 and chapter 3.
for the 3rd module: Regonini G., (2001), Capire le politiche pubbliche, Bologna: il Mulino, chapter 4, subsections 1 (first definitions), 2 (the establishment of the paradigm), subsections 3.2 (policies as interactions) and 3.3 (policies as processes), subsections 4.2 (mutual adjustment between partisan interests) and 4.3 (disconnected incrementalism); lecture slides on chapter 4.
For non-attending students, the study of the essay by Polverari, L., Piattoni, S., (2022), The Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan and Administrative Capacity: A Real Game Changer?, 'Rivista Italiana di Politiche Pubbliche, Rivista quadrimestrale' 2/2022, pp. 169-189, downloadable free of charge from the online journal of the university library
Further asynchronous lecture materials will be available on MyAriel.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The examination will test knowledge of the topics covered in the course, public policy analysis skills, knowledge of policy evaluation tools and argumentative and critical skills.
The examination is conducted in written form, with open and closed questions. The grade will be expressed in thirtieths and will be given by the weighted average of the marks of the two papers taken. For attending students, an intermediate examination will be held, without enrolment in SIFA, and a final examination will be held at one of the scheduled dates. The status of frequent attendee remains beyond the first call from the end of the course.
The examination is conducted in written form, with open and closed questions. The grade will be expressed in thirtieths and will be given by the weighted average of the marks of the two papers taken. For attending students, an intermediate examination will be held, without enrolment in SIFA, and a final examination will be held at one of the scheduled dates. The status of frequent attendee remains beyond the first call from the end of the course.
SPS/04 - POLITICAL SCIENCE - University credits: 9
: 10 hours
: 20 hours
Lessons: 30 hours
: 20 hours
Lessons: 30 hours
Professor:
Galanti Maria Tullia
Shifts:
Turno
Professor:
Galanti Maria TulliaEducational website(s)
Professor(s)