1. Competing Theories of the Policy Process A theory is a set of logically related set of statements, including some law like generalizations, that are empirically testable.

2. How do we know if a theory or model is useful or helpful? Order and simplify reality Models help identify what is significant. Models should be congruent with reality. Models should provide meaningful communication. Models should suggest explanations. Models should direct inquiry and research.

3. Where should we look when studying policy? Theories help us answer this question Day to day decisionmaking Statutory language Policy outcomes/effects Individuals Institutions Groups Elite

4. Different Theories (neo)Institutional Rationalism Incrementalism Punctuated Equilibrium Group/Pluralism Elite Rational Choice/Public Choice Game theory Systems theory Stages Approach

5. Stages of the Policy Process The policy formulation process: The leadership selection process: The Interest Group Process: Opinion Making process: Policy Legitimation process: Policy Implementation: Policy Evaluation Process:

7. Policy Formulation Who are the major actors? Who are generating the policy ideas? Players –Foundations Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation –Think Tanks Brookings Institute; American Enterprise Institute Council on Foreign Relations; Trilateral Commission Council on Economic Development; Business Roundtable

8. How do these organizations influence the policy process? By defining social problems Defining the set of possible solutions In other words, setting the policy agenda

9. Sabatier Point of his article? Inadequacy of the Stages Approach Policy Scholars have uncovered some things that Political Scientists tend to neglect Discusses 4 useful theories

10. a)The importance of policy subsystems involving actors from numerous public and private institutions and from multiple levels of government. b) The importance of substantive policy information: c) The critical role of policy elites vis-a-vis the general public. d) The desirability of longitudinal studies of a decade or more e) Differences in political behavior across policy types

11. Useful Theories 1. The open-systems framework of Richard Hofferbert. 2. An approach involving rational actors within institutions developed by Elinor Ostrom and her colleagues. 3. John Kingdon's "policy streams" framework 4. The "advocacy coalition" frame- work recently developed by Sabatier.

13. Institutional Analysis Developed by Elinor Ostrom and her colleagues at Indiana University An elaboration of rational choice/public choice theory How individual attributes and institutional rules and socioeconomic setting can affect behavior Three levels of institutional analysis

16. Policy Streams Problems Stream: events, information, etc. Policy Stream: researchers, policy entrepreneurs; policy options/alternatives Politics Stream: elections, leadership Window of opportunities when these three streams meet

17. Advocacy Coalition Approach The interaction of competing advocacy coalitions within a policy subsystem Changes external to the subsystem The effects of stable system parameters