In this book, an international group of public policy scholars revisit the stage of formulating policy solutions by investigating the basic political dimensions inherent to this critical phase of the policy process.
The book focuses attention on how policy makers craft their policy proposals, match them with public problems, debate their feasibility to build coalitions and dispute their acceptability as serious contenders for government consideration. Based on international case studies, this book is an invitation to examine the uncertain and often indeterminate aspects of policy-making using qualitative analysis embedded in a political perspective.
, partly the result of political conflict and partly the consequence of discursive meaning contestation. The argument informs MSA by adding a dynamic element to the process of generating policy solutions (ideas or alternatives; I use the terms interchangeably), but it also goes beyond it by adding elements of pragmatic constructivism. It stresses the importance of agency and context in policy formulation. Policy actors deliberate over ideas to craft solutions in particular contexts. Meaning and symbols are integral parts of the process, transmitted through language and
This chapter analyses the emergence, construction, and trajectory of road-space re-allocation as a policy solution to urban mobility challenges. In a context of growing pressure on urban road networks and rapidly developing new technologies, a number of policy solutions have been introduced, including developing sustainable modes of transportation, promoting alternative land-use patterns, encouraging the development of new road-space functions, and going beyond transportation objectives in order to integrate a wider range of urban policy objectives (Anciaes and
solutions to survive the scrutiny of competing ideas. In the same way, discourse coalitions seek to influence, frame, create ownership, and negotiate policy solutions before and during deliberative processes. To accomplish this, coalitions often use discursive political instruments to position their ideas. One instrument is policy statements, which seek to unite actors, create ownership, and cement coalition members (Zittoun 2014 ; Durnova et al 2016 ). The discursive practices of coalitions and their actors can also serve to condense large amounts of factual
64 7 Reentry and public policy solutions: addressing barriers to housing and employment Maria Valdovinos Olson The problem In a 1939 address to the National Parole Conference, President Roosevelt noted that upwards of 60,000 individuals were released annually with the least progress made “in the very important matter of getting people from prison back … to society.” By the time the issue of prisoner reentry became a matter of policy concern in the wake of America’s mass incarceration experiment, the problem had grown more than ten- fold. In 2018 alone
; Zittoun 2013 ). As is the case for other central elements of the MSF, it is often mentioned, but rarely elaborated on or systematically applied (Jones et al 2016 ). Against this backdrop, this chapter seeks to contribute to a better understanding of (the preparation of) such ‘binding activities’ by policy actors, and the argumentative processes through which ‘measures’ or ‘instruments’ are defined into ‘policy solutions’. It therefore enlightens the first of the three epistemological dimensions distinguished in Chapter 1 . Specifically, this chapter focuses on the
Promoting walking and cycling proposes solutions to one of the most pressing problems in contemporary British transport planning. The need to develop more sustainable urban mobility lies at the heart of energy and environmental policies and has major implications for the planning of cities and for the structure of economy and society. However, most people feel either unable or unwilling to incorporate travel on foot or by bike into their everyday journeys.
This book uses innovative quantitative and qualitative research methods to examine in depth, and in an international and historical context, why so many people fail to travel in ways that are deemed by most to be desirable. It proposes evidence-based policy solutions that could increase levels of walking and cycling substantially.
This book is essential reading for planners and policy makers developing and implementing transport policies at both national and local levels, plus researchers and students in the field of mobility, transport, sustainability and urban planning.
EPDF and EPUB available Open Access under CC-BY-NC licence. Drawing on comparative research from five countries, What Works in Improving Gender Equality provides an accessible analysis of what gender equality means and how we can achieve it by adapting best practices in care policies from other countries.
Realistic policy solutions are reached by examining the contexts in which childcare and longterm care policies are developed, and what difficulties might need to be overcome in applying the lessons from different international models.
Much of the literature that addresses youth unemployment has been framed within an economic paradigm and much less attention has been focused on the role played by country-specific value orientations in structuring economic activity.
Drawing on extensive fieldwork research and the work of experts in Europe and the United States, this book provides a culturally nuanced analysis of key issues relating to youth unemployment.
Examining the causes and consequences of youth unemployment, it explores ways forward to promote economic self-sufficiency. This pioneering work offers invaluable tailored policy solutions to tackle one of today’s most important socioeconomic issues.
The COVID-19 pandemic is having far-reaching political and social consequences across the globe. Published in collaboration with the Society for the Study of Social Problems (SSSP), this book addresses the greatest social challenges facing the world as a result of the pandemic.
The authors propose public policy solutions to help refugees, migrant workers, victims of human trafficking, indigenous populations and the invisible poor of the Global South.
