Government policies are laws, enactments, and regulations that aim to affect society and its members in a positive way. They may be designed to promote economic growth, reduce inequality, or protect the environment. Policy is often the result of a complex process that involves multiple stakeholders and many interests.
A central feature of policy making is identifying problems that are worthy of attention. This is accomplished through a mix of objective indicators and subjective assessments based on ideologies, customs, beliefs, and values. Once a problem has been determined, it is then evaluated to determine if it constitutes a significant issue that requires intervention. This is known as agenda setting.
Defining the nature of a problem is essential to policymaking, as well as deciding whether a given issue should be addressed at the local, state or federal level. Depending on the context, specific problems may also be defined as either desirable or undesirable, and this is determined through a mix of societal values and preferences.
Finally, the elaboration of the policies themselves is crucial, and here we find that government officials at all levels must balance diverse concerns and interests in order to formulate and execute effective public programs. Ultimately, this is what makes a democracy work.
This is why modern policies are increasingly collaborative in nature and involve a wide array of stakeholders from different industries, non-profit organizations, and varied constituency groups. The goal is to ensure that every person’s needs are represented and that everyone has a chance to thrive.
