Policy Implementation Dr. Upul Abeyrathne, Dept. of Economics, University of Ruhuna, Matara.

What is Implementation? It is the stage immediately after the passage of a law. From a broader perspective, it is the administration of laws in which various actors, organizations, procedures and techniques work together to put adopted policies into effect in an effort to attain policy or programmes goals.

Implementation as a Process It is a process of decisions and actions directed toward putting a prior governmental decision into effect. Steps: 1. Administrative Rule making and establishes the routines for implementation of the law. 2. Appropriation of resources (Human and Material) 3. Monitoring, rewards and sanctions 4. Redesigning to prevent flaws and missed opportunities. The most important characteristic of implementation process is the timely and satisfactory performance of certain task to carry out the intent of law.

Implementers Bureaucracy Legislature Courts Pressure Groups Community Organization Public-Private Partnership

Bureaucracy Traditionally, implementing public policy has been a business of the administrative agencies of the government. Once a law is passed formally by legislatures, the administrative agencies begin the process of implementation. These organizations have a great deal of discretion in carrying out public policies because they are operating under established laws that secure their jobs.

It is a top down process of implementation They process a great degree of discretion because law givers are unable or reluctant to provide guidelines in detail.

Legislatures Traditional public administration has thought that Politics and administration were separate activities. Today this process have been questioned. Administrative agencies are involved in drafting law proposal. On the other hand, Legislatures involve in implementing public policies when it enacts at laws in more details. Legislatures are compelled to get involved in policy implementation due to many and varied criticism over bureaucracy.

In many instances, Public laws are enforced by courts. It also involve in policy formulation when it direct executive on certain issue areas. It involves in policy implementation when some party seeks its intervention to get laws implemented.

Pressure Groups Administrative organizations have much discretion in drafting regulation in support of legislation. They are besieged by interest groups. They can influence implementation at this point in a way that benefit them. Some have argued some agencies are captured by interest group.

Community Organizations It has become a fashion to hand over implementation of laws to community organizations. e.g. Samurdhi Movement

Private Public Partnership To overcome the burden of finance, many governments at present have resorted to public private partnership Securing Economy, efficiency and effectiveness are other objectives. It is being thought of as one way to overcome bureaucratic bottlenecks.

Techniques There are many ways to implement public policies. There two widely known approaches. 1. Command and Control 2. Economic incentive(Market).

Command and Control It is somewhat coercive. Standard setting, inspections, imposing sanctions over violators, Opponents of this approach say that it dictates behaviour, discourage private initiatives and innovation, waste or misusese public resources.

Economic Incentives Uses tax credits and holidays, subsidies, other rewards and punishments for private interests to comply They argue that this approach would allow individual to make their own initiatives, it enhances freedom and voluntarism and allow to achieve the desired goals at the lowest possible cost to society. “Whatever the approach, success depends on good faith between various actors involved in implementation.