Process of Policy Process of Policy FormulationFormulation

Steps People Involved Outcome Example

Need or demandfor a solution to aProblem Normative isues

Advocacy groupsPrivate individualsMediaInterest groups

Collective supportfor issues andpublicizingcollective support

Child Action’ssupport for childcare

ProblemIdentification &Acceptance as alegitimate problem

People who areinvolved inCommitteehearings, pressreports,testimonials

Introduction ofbills in the House,Assembly andSenate

Introduction of arecent bill toensure patientrights in healthcare

Proposals areinitiated andargumentspresented

Senators,representatives andAssemblymen asthe Case maybe

Bills are amendedNew versions arepresented andconference reportssought

The 1996 welfarereform had severalversions before itwas finalized

Policy islegitimized andpromulgated

President,Congress, federalCourts, employees

Policy isimplemented

TANF is currentlyin theimplementation/evaluation stage

Social Welfare - a Measure to Control Social Welfare - a Measure to Control the Poor the Poor

Short supply of labor force due to Black DeathShort supply of labor force due to Black Death Creation of the Statute of Laborers in 1349 that regulated the movement of Creation of the Statute of Laborers in 1349 that regulated the movement of

laborerslaborers Government control over employment -work or jailGovernment control over employment -work or jail Peasants’ Rebellion of 1381Peasants’ Rebellion of 1381 Statute of Artificers enacted in 1388 in England prevented movement from Statute of Artificers enacted in 1388 in England prevented movement from

place of birth without permission place of birth without permission Increase in population, enclosure movement, lack of raw materials, low Increase in population, enclosure movement, lack of raw materials, low

wages and inflation coupled with high unemploymentwages and inflation coupled with high unemployment Production of trade goods and money economy which involved accumulation Production of trade goods and money economy which involved accumulation

of profits beyond the cost of raw materials, labor and investment of profits beyond the cost of raw materials, labor and investment Dawn of capitalism and social welfare became part of the labor policyDawn of capitalism and social welfare became part of the labor policy Work became a moral issue; responsibility for poverty was placed on the Work became a moral issue; responsibility for poverty was placed on the

worker’s shouldersworker’s shoulders Calvinism and the Protestant work ethicCalvinism and the Protestant work ethic Elizebethan Poor Laws of 1601-almshouses and workhousesElizebethan Poor Laws of 1601-almshouses and workhouses

Questions for Questions for consideration in policy consideration in policy formulationformulation

Is the policy compatible with the current mood of the Is the policy compatible with the current mood of the nation?nation?

Does it reflect the prevailing values in society?Does it reflect the prevailing values in society? Is it a politically viable policy? Will it create an Is it a politically viable policy? Will it create an

uprising or other social/political problems?uprising or other social/political problems? Is it legally sound? Rational? Based on empirical data?Is it legally sound? Rational? Based on empirical data? Will it satisfy the predominant interest groups?Will it satisfy the predominant interest groups? Does it promote justice and equality?Does it promote justice and equality? Is it an economically feasible policy that provides the Is it an economically feasible policy that provides the

best option among other options available? Is it best option among other options available? Is it efficient?efficient?

History of Social Welfare History of Social Welfare PolicyPolicy

Feudalism and embeddedness-obligation of honorFeudalism and embeddedness-obligation of honor Population increase and emergence of agricultural technologyPopulation increase and emergence of agricultural technology Reduction of profits for the Lords- emergence of tenant forming Reduction of profits for the Lords- emergence of tenant forming Individualism and alienation - the cessation of obligation of the Lords to Individualism and alienation - the cessation of obligation of the Lords to

protect the serfsprotect the serfs Mechanization and Lords’ control of equipment such as grinding mills Mechanization and Lords’ control of equipment such as grinding mills

which monopolized the use of labor saving devices and the emergence which monopolized the use of labor saving devices and the emergence of user fee of user fee

Church’s deep involvement in governance and distribution of charityChurch’s deep involvement in governance and distribution of charity Continuation of private charity and the service by the clergy, and the Continuation of private charity and the service by the clergy, and the

guildsguilds Displacement of agricultural workers, growing piecework industry, Displacement of agricultural workers, growing piecework industry,

hard work routines, population increase and famine resulted in hard work routines, population increase and famine resulted in associating the poor with moral degradation and witchcraftassociating the poor with moral degradation and witchcraft

Poverty became a crime Poverty became a crime

Social Security-A drowning Social Security-A drowning Ship?Ship?

Is the most expensive program in jeopardy Is the most expensive program in jeopardy because of the reduced dependency ratio or because of the reduced dependency ratio or because of COLAS? because of COLAS?

Will means testing the program save the Will means testing the program save the drowning ship?drowning ship?

How to assure intergenerational equity?How to assure intergenerational equity? Can it become a targeted program? Can it become a targeted program? Can the tax system be used to reduce the stigma Can the tax system be used to reduce the stigma

if means test becomes a criteria to receive if means test becomes a criteria to receive benefits from social security?benefits from social security?

How can SSI and SSD be effectively used to meet How can SSI and SSD be effectively used to meet the needs of poor social security recipients?the needs of poor social security recipients?

What is social security?What is social security?

Designed to help deal with economic insecurityDesigned to help deal with economic insecurity Income maintenance program that helps offset the Income maintenance program that helps offset the

income losses that accompany disability, death or old income losses that accompany disability, death or old ageage

Principles of :Principles of :• UniversalityUniversality• EquityEquity• AdequacyAdequacy• Less stigmatizationLess stigmatization• Saving IncentivesSaving Incentives• IntegrationIntegration

Is social security a “chain Is social security a “chain Letter”?Letter”?

Declining rates of returnDeclining rates of return Poor sustainability of benefit promisesPoor sustainability of benefit promises Universality principle that favors the wealthyUniversality principle that favors the wealthy Younger generation worried about inability to keep Younger generation worried about inability to keep

promises by the governmentpromises by the government Political nature of the issuePolitical nature of the issue Public discourse based on inaccurate informationPublic discourse based on inaccurate information Entitlement securityEntitlement security Perverse incentivesPerverse incentives Actuarial uncertainty Actuarial uncertainty

Cost EffectivenessCost Effectiveness

A method for quantifying costs of A method for quantifying costs of services in relation to the goal services in relation to the goal achievement. achievement.

No monetary value is placed on No monetary value is placed on the desired goalsthe desired goals