Perspectives on Policy and Policy Making

This chapter describes three perspectives on policy and policy making. First, policy analysis is research for policy: defining problems, seeking solutions, identifying trade-offs, estimating their effects, and making recommendations. Second, policy studies is research of policy and policy making: what policy is, who makes it, how policy makers understand problems, and limits to their influence. Third, critical policy analysis identifies: who is involved, who decides, who benefits, and how to challenge inequitable processes and outcomes. The chapter shows how all three perspectives are essential to our understanding of policy making.