Public Policy

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.

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