Governments play a major role in the development process, constantly introducing reforms and policies to achieve developmental objectives. Many of these interventions have limited impact, however; schools get built but children don’t learn, IT systems are introduced but not used, plans are written but not implemented. These achievement deficiencies reveal gaps in capabilities, and weaknesses in the process of building state capability.

This book addresses these weaknesses and gaps. It provides evidence of the capability shortfalls that currently exist in many countries, analyses this evidence and identifies capability traps that hold many governments back—particularly related to isomorphic mimicry and premature load-bearing. The book then describes a process that governments can use to escape these capability traps. Called PDIA (Problem Driven Iterative Adaptation), this process empowers people working in governments to find and fit solutions to the problems they face. This process is explained in a practical manner so that readers can actually apply tools and ideas to the capability challenges they face in their own contexts. These applications will help readers implement policies and reforms that have more impact than those of the past. 

[See Download link for more book details]

Creating Adaptive Policies was written to help policy-makers navigate today’s complex, dynamic and uncertain terrain—to help policies help people. Contained in the chapters of this book are seven tools that have helped policy-makers design and implement policies that perform in highly dynamic and uncertain settings. Adaptive policies anticipate the array of conditions that lie ahead through robust design using: (1) integrated and forward-looking analysis, including scenario planning; (2) multi-stakeholder deliberation to illuminate potential pitfalls and unintended consequences and (3) by monitoring key performance indicators to trigger automatic policy adjustments. But not all situations can be anticipated in advance through diligent use of analytical and deliberative tools. Adaptive policies are also able to navigate towards successful outcomes in settings that cannot be anticipated in advance. The book describes how this can be done by working in concert with certain characteristics of complex adaptive systems, including: (1) enabling self-organizing and social networking in communities (2) decentralizing decision-making to the lowest, and most effective and accountable unit of governance; (3) promoting variation in policy responses; and through (4) regular and systematic policy review and improvement—always examining whether assumptions about intended outcomes are accurate. 

In the light of better and more detailed administrative databases, this open access book provides statistical tools for evaluating the effects of public policies advocated by governments and public institutions. Experts from academia, national statistics offices and various research centers present modern econometric methods for an efficient data-driven policy evaluation and monitoring, assess the causal effects of policy measures and report on best practices of successful data management and usage. Topics include data confidentiality, data linkage, and national practices in policy areas such as public health, education and employment. It offers scholars as well as practitioners from public administrations, consultancy firms and nongovernmental organizations insights into counterfactual impact evaluation methods and the potential of data-based policy and program evaluation. 

Features:

• Demonstrates the potential of data-based policy evaluation

• Introduces counterfactual impact evaluation methods

• Includes case studies on policy areas such as public health, education and employment

Contents Page:

The Power of Microdata: An Introduction

Microdata for Policy Research

• From ‘Intruders’ to ‘Partners’: The Evolution of the Relationship Between the Research Community and Sources of Official Administrative Data

• Microdata for Social Sciences and Policy Evaluation as a Public Good

• Overview of Data Linkage Methods for Policy Design and Evaluation

• Privacy in Microdata Release: Challenges, Techniques, and Approaches

Microdata Access

• Access to European Statistical System Microdata

• Giving the International Scientific Community Access to German Labor Market Data: A Success Story

• Hungary: A Case Study on Improving Access to Administrative Data in a Low-Trust Environment

• Experimental and Longitudinal Data for Scientific and Policy Research: Open Access to Data Collected in the Longitudinal Internet Studies for the Social Sciences (LISS) Panel

Counterfactual Studies

• Public Policy, Big Data, and Counterfactual Evaluation: An Illustration from an Employment Activation Programme

• The Use of Administrative Data to Evaluate the Impact of Active Labor Market Policies: The Case of the Italian Liste di Mobilità

• Negative Home Equity and Job Mobility

• Microdata and Policy Evaluation at CPB

• Long-Term Effects of a Social Intervention for Vulnerable Youth: A Register-Based Study

• Does the Road to Happiness Depend on the Retirement Decision? Evidence from Italy

• The Impact of Age of Entry on Academic Progression

Reviews:

“This book, edited by Nuno Crato and Paolo Paruolo, provides a thorough analysis of evaluation studies and is a valuable contribution for a reader seeking to gain an understanding of the literature on microdata issues and the use of the results related to policy evaluation. … the book could be very useful to scholars interested in regional development and regional policy effectiveness given the topics and the discussions included.” 

--Roberto Gabriele, Regional Studies, Vol. 53 (6), 2019.

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The use of evaluation evidence to inform government policymaking and decisions for programming has gained traction in many countries across the globe. More importantly, there is growing empirical evidence that monitoring and evaluation within the public sector are gaining political recognition. This recognition is important in facilitating the uptake of evaluation results to influence all government policy and decision-making processes. However, the extent to which political recognition is influencing the efficacy of policies, projects, programs, and interventions in the public sector in South Africa remains unclear.

This book focuses on exploring the extent to which government departments, agencies and entities in South Africa use evaluation results to inform their departmental policies and evaluation practices, the challenges experienced, and lessons learned. Moreover, it explores the contribution of various actors such as civil society, parliaments, and academia in evidence generation and their support to the government in the use of evidence towards better policy and decision-making.

[From the Foreword:] 

The challenges experienced by the level of government closest to the people are often understated, leading to an in-balance in the allocation of funding and support required by local government and inappropriate policymaking. The responsibility is then on those in local government to deal with communities who lash out their frustration at the level of government closest to the people. Therefore, it is of absolute importance that evidence that has been identified during evaluation studies undertaken within the public sector, be used as the foundation to set the tone and influence policymaking within the Government. The contributions of the authors of this inaugural book lend support to this critical thinking regarding evidence-based policymaking.

Dr Kariuki, with his co-editor of this book, Professor Gerrit van der Waldt, has gathered several esteemed professionals in the monitoring and evaluation field, to author this book on monitoring and evaluation, with emphasis on policymaking in the public sector environment.

This book will benefit the readers, especially those involved in political decision-making, planning, policymaking, monitoring, evaluation, and research work as well as any other reader who is interested in this subject matter, as it will provide critical information for policymaking at the public sector level.

Contents page:

Contents

Book Summary 

Abbreviations 

Foreword   

About the Volume Editors and Authors   

• Ch. 1: Origins and Purpose of Evidence-Informed Policy and Practice and the Rationale for Monitoring and Evaluation in the Public Sector 

• Ch. 2: Statutory and Regulatory Framework, International Instruments, and Benchmarks for Evidence Use in Governance 

• Ch. 3: The Use of Evaluation Evidence as a Catalyst for Administrative Reforms: Towards Efficiency and Effectiveness in the Public Sector 

• Ch. 4: The Politics of the Use of Evaluations in Policymaking in South Africa: Challenges and Mitigation Strategies   

• Ch. 5: Evidence-Based Policymaking and Analysis: Systems and Techniques   

• Ch. 6: Key Actors Involved in Evidence Generation and Monitoring & Evaluation in the South African Public Sector   

• Ch. 7: Evidence Use in Policy and Practice: Lessons Learnt and the Way Forward

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The Last Mile explores the gaps and dichotomy between drafted policies and their implementation, and the last mile challenges which often make public services inaccessible to the poorest and most vulnerable sections of society. It provides an in-depth overview of the dynamics between communities, research and consultation and the implementation of policies for development. 

Rich in empirical data and case studies from different government programmes and reports, this book examines the implementation of government service programmes for poverty reduction, women’s empowerment, and income generation for the poor, among others, from a people’s perspective. It highlights the need for policies and institutions to align their methods to community needs. Offering guidelines for redesigning as well as solutions to counter challenges related to lack of trust and effective communication, human resource management, capacity development, redressal mechanisms, and facilitating the last mile connection, the author delineates effective ways for integrating new technologies in policy implementation. The book also addresses legacy issues in institutions and re-orienting policy for better governance, transparency, and building trust. 

Part of the Innovations, Practice and the Future of Public Policy in India series, this book, by a senior practitioner, will be an essential resource for students and researchers of development studies, sociology, public policy and governance, economics, and South Asian studies. 

Contents page:

Introduction

• Ch. 1 - A Poverty-Free India: Building Systems for Outcomes

• Ch. 2 - The Historical Legacy

• Ch. 3 - The Diversity of Geographies

• Ch. 4 - High Growth, Ease of Doing Business, and Well-Being

• Ch. 5 - Improving Ease of Living of the Poor

• Ch. 6 - Why Incomes Matter

• Ch. 7 - Women's Well-Being and Livelihoods

• Ch. 8 - Women, Work, and Well-Being

• Ch. 9 - Vulnerable Social Groups, Inclusive Policies and Programmes

• Ch. 10 - Policy and Programme Formulation in Basic Education

• Ch. 11 - Revisiting Skills for Full Employment

• Ch. 12 - Higher Education: Meeting the Challenge

• Ch. 13 - Policy and Programme Formulation in Health

• Ch. 14 - Making Quality Health for All a Reality

• Ch. 15 - Poshan, People, and Panchayats

• Ch. 16 - Improving Governance of Programmes

• Ch. 17 - Community Connect, GPDPs, and Rankings

• Ch. 18 - Human Resource Reforms

• Ch. 19 - Poverty-Free Gram Panchayats

• Ch. 20 - Improving Well-Being of Urban Poor

• Ch. 21 - Why We Need the PM's Human Development Council

• Ch. 22 - Global Warming: Local Churning

• Ch. 23 - A Poverty-Free India: Concluding Remarks

• Ch. 24 - An India for All

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When it comes to policymaking, public servants have traditionally learned ‘on the job’, with practical experience and tacit knowledge valued over theory-based learning and academic analysis. Yet increasing numbers of public servants are undertaking policy training through postgraduate qualifications and/or through short courses in policy training.

Learning Policy, Doing Policy explores how policy theory is understood by practitioners and how it influences their practice. The book brings together insights from research, teaching and practice on an issue that has so far been understudied. Contributors include Australian and international policy scholars, and current and former practitioners from government agencies. The first part of the book focuses on theorising, teaching and learning about the policymaking process; the second part outlines how current and former practitioners have employed policy process theory in the form of models or frameworks to guide and analyse policymaking in practice; and the final part examines how policy theory insights can assist policy practitioners.

In exploring how policy process theory is developed, taught and taken into policymaking practice, Learning Policy, Doing Policy draws on the expertise of academics and practitioners, and also ‘pracademics’ who often serve as a bridge between the academy and government. It draws on a range of both conceptual and applied examples. Its themes are highly relevant for both individuals and institutions, and reflect trends towards a stronger professional ethos in the Australian Public Service. This book is a timely resource for policy scholars, teaching academics, students and policy practitioners.

Contents Page:

Part 1. Theorising, teaching and learning about policymaking

1. Public policy theory, practice and teaching: Investigating the interactions 

2. A quixotic quest? Making theory speak to practice 

3. What can policy theory offer busy practitioners? Investigating the Australian experience 

4. Delivering public policy programs to senior executives in government—the Australia and New Zealand School of Government 2002–18 

5. How do policy professionals in New Zealand use academic research in their work

6. The dilemmas of managing parliament: Promoting awareness of public management theories to parliamentary administrators 

Part 2. Putting policymaking theory into practice

7. Public policy processes in Australia: Reflections from experience 

8. Using the policy cycle: Practice into theory and back again 

9. Succeeding and failing in crafting environment policy: Can public policy theories help? 

10. Understanding the policymaking enterprise: Foucault among the bureaucrats 

11. The practical realities of policy on the run: A practitioner’s response to academic policy frameworks 

12. Documenting the link between policy theory and practice in a government department: A map of sea without any land 

Part 3. How can theory better inform practice and vice versa?

13. Taking lessons from policy theory into practice 

14. Synthesising models, theories and frameworks for public policy: Implications for the future 

15. Public policy theory, practice and skills: Advancing the debate 

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Our environmental, economic, and social systems are currently facing a host of challenges, which if left unaddressed will have significant implications for the world in which we live. Tackling these challenges will require better-informed decision-making, which in turn requires models that are designed and developed with sustainable development considerations and objectives in mind. To support this need for better-informed decision making, this book brings together the insights and expertise of a dozen expert modellers and policy analysts, who completed this project on modelling for sustainable development in June 2019 using the "Book Sprints" method. 

This practical book:

• Outlines the different modelling approaches available; 

• Describes why model design and development matters for sustainable development; and 

• Explains how these models can contribute to decision-making processes.

The book is designed for decision-makers, model commissioners, model developers, model users, and students specializing in modelling and/or the different aspects of sustainable development. 

This book brings together original contributions from leading scholars and practitioners with expertise in various academic disciplines, including economics, philosophy, physics, political science, public policy and theology. The volume addresses three main issues: fist, the ethical considerations that should inform the conduct of public officials and the task of policy analysis; second, the ethics of climate change; and third, ethics and economic policy. While the contributors have varying views on these important issues, they share a common conviction that the ethical dimensions of public policy need to be better understood and given proper attention in the policy-making process. 

Contents page:

1. Ethics and public policy 

Part I: Ethical foundations of public policy

2. Justice, humanity, and prudence 

3. Doing ethical policy analysis 

4. The public servant as analyst, adviser, and advocate 

5. Be careful what you wish for 

Part II: Ethics of climate change

6. The most important thing about climate change 

7. Recognising ethics to help a constructive climate change debate 

8. Sharing the responsibility of dealing with climate change: Interpreting the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities 

9. Virtue and the commons 

Part III: Perspectives on ethics and the economy

10. Tackling economic inequality 

11. Is ethics important for economic growth? 

12. Regulation of financial markets: Panics, moral hazard, and the long-term good 

13. An alternative reply to the free-rider objection against unconditional citizenship grants 

References 

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This Handbook provides an authoritative and foundational disciplinary overview of African Public Policy and a comprehensive examination of the practicalities of policy analysis, policymaking processes, implementation, and administration in Africa today. The book assembles a multidisciplinary team of distinguished and upcoming Africanist scholars, practitioners, researchers and policy experts working inside and outside Africa to analyse the historical and emerging policy issues in 21st-century Africa. While mostly attentive to comparative public policy in Africa, this book attempts to address some of the following pertinent questions: 

• How can public policy be understood and taught in Africa? 

• How does policymaking occur in unstable political contexts, or in states under pressure? 

• Has the democratisation of governing systems improved policy processes in Africa? 

• How have recent transformations, such as technological proliferation in Africa, impacted public policy processes? 

• What are the underlying challenges and potential policy paths for Africa going forward? 

The contributions examine an interplay of prevailing institutional, political, structural challenges and opportunities for policy effectiveness to discern striking commonalities and trajectories across different African states. This is a valuable resource for practitioners, politicians, researchers, university students, and academics interested in studying and understanding how African countries are governed.

 The organisation of this book:

Apart from the introductory chapter, this book contains 12 parts with 53 chapters, divided into the conceptualisation of African Public Policy and other composites of policy process. 

• Part I addresses issues surrounding the research, theory and teaching of African Public Policy with different contributors dealing with specific topics on research, theorisation and teaching of Public Policy in Africa. 

• Part II is on Understanding Policy Framing in Africa. 

• Part III is on Understanding Policymaking in Africa. This part mainly deals with structures, policy regimes, history and actors in policymaking in Africa. 

• Part IV is on Understanding Policy Reforms in Africa. Here authors comparatively map rationales for public sector reforms and the kind of policies these reforms have produced. 

• Part V is on Understanding Politics and Public Policy in Africa. This part deals with political reforms, political leadership, political parties and election administration and shaped public policy. 

• Part VI provides country- and sector-specific studies, hence its title Understanding Policy Implementation Outcomes in Africa: Country Studies. 

• Part VII is on Implementing Education Policies in Africa. This part is looking into different approaches that have been used to improve education quality in a few selected countries in Africa. 

• Part VIII is on Understanding Health Policies and Disease Control in Africa. 

• Part IX is on Food Security and Social Protection Policies. 

• Part X delves into recent policy debates on gender and equal representation and equality. Contributors in this part focus on Women and Gender in Africa. 

• Part XI is on Crisis Management, Migration and Regional Trade. 

• Part XII focuses on the Emerging Policy Issues and Challenges. 

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This timely book expertly examines ongoing pressing issues in the modern world namely, an unstable economic climate, political turmoil and the environmental crisis. It takes a unique look at how science, technology and innovation could contribute towards the creation of a smarter and more resilient society by allowing more inclusive approaches into how science is integrated.

This is an open access title available under the terms of a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License. It is free to read, download and share on Elgaronline thanks to generous funding support from The Swedish Governmental Agency For Innovation Systems, Vinnova.

With an insightful global interdisciplinary approach, Smart Policies for Societies in Transition combines in-depth theoretical analysis whilst also providing a reflective look at broadening the scope of science and innovation policy in order to understand the critical issues and challenges. Chapters illustrate historical practices and events, and discuss how the move to smart politics and the linking of boundaries from a social, ecological and global viewpoint leads to fewer but more creative policies.

With its retrospective and forward-thinking perspectives, this book will be an excellent resource for academics wanting to rethink their approach to science and innovation governance, whilst scholars will find the collaborative method for combining policy analysis with theory of policymaking and governance informative and illuminating.

Table of contents:

Front Matter

Copyright

Contents

Contributors

Acknowledgements

• Ch.1: Towards a smart society? Innovation policy and the challenges of social inclusion, environmental resilience and sustainable growth

• Ch.2: A smart green direction for innovation: the answer to unemployment and inequality?

• Ch.3: The importance of post-modern science policy

• Ch.4: What past changes in Swedish policy tell us about developing third-generation research and innovation governance

• Ch.5: Masculinity and nationhood: cultural roots for the head in the clouds and feet on the ground research in China

• Ch.6: Funding transformative research - rationale and impacts

• Ch.7: Towards transformative policy in Finland and Sweden: some viewpoints from practice

• Ch.8: The integrative humanities - and the third research policy regime

• Ch.9: Foundations and the new renewal of research

• Ch.10: Decision-making in a time of spin and unspoken values

Back Matter

Open access

Index

Reviews:

‘This is a fascinating book about innovation policy that goes beyond the narrow focus on economic growth or international competition. It offers fresh new insight and ideas about the transformative role that smart policies can play in addressing a broader set of social, economic, and ecological challenges we face. It is a must read for not only scholars but also policy practitioners who care about innovation and its broad impact on society.’ -- Xue Lan, Tsinghua University, China

 ‘This book explores key requirements for smart politics, focussing on the domain of innovation policy. The editors adopt a broadened understanding of innovation – beyond technological change or product innovation –, requiring integrated, transformative policy responses to pressing societal, environmental and economic problems. The book further suggests three elements of smart innovation policies: first, acknowledging the importance of inclusion and justice; second, accepting that global flows of knowledge and goods will remain crucial; and third, unleashing a creative, experimental reconstruction of public policies.’ -- Stefan Kuhlmann, University of Twente, the Netherlands

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This book asks how governments in Africa can use evidence to improve their policies and programmes, and ultimately, to achieve positive change for their citizens. Looking at different evidence sources across a range of contexts, the book brings policy makers and researchers together to uncover what does and doesn’t work and why.

Case studies are drawn from five countries and the ECOWAS (west African) region, and a range of sectors from education, wildlife, sanitation, through to government procurement processes. The book is supported by a range of policy briefs and videos intended to be both practical and critically rigorous. It uses evidence sources such as evaluations, research synthesis and citizen engagement to show how these cases succeeded in informing policy and practice. The voices of policy makers are key to the book, ensuring that the examples deployed are useful to practitioners and researchers alike.

This innovative book will be perfect for policy makers, practitioners in government and civil society, and researchers and academics with an interest in how evidence can be used to support policy making in Africa.

Contents page:

 1. Introduction to the book

2. An introduction to evidence-informed policy and practice in Africa

3. Using evidence in Africa: A framework to assess what works, how and why

4. Mere compliance or learning – M&E culture in the public service of Benin, Uganda and South Africa

5. Using evaluations to inform policy and practice in a government department

    : The case of the Department of Basic Education in South Africa

6. Use of evidence in a complex social programme

    : Case of an evaluation of the state’s response to violence against women and children in South Africa

7. The influence of local ownership and politics of the use of evaluations in policy making

    : The case of the public procurement evaluation in Uganda

8. Rapidly responding to policy queries with evidence

    : Learning from Rapid Response Services in Uganda

9. The potential and the challenges of evaluations to positively influence reforms

    : Working with producers in the Benin agricultural sector

10. Parliament and public participation in Kenya

     : The case of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act 2013

11. The contribution of civil society generated evidence to the improvement of sanitation services in Ghana

12. Using evidence for tobacco control in West Africa

13. Lessons for using evidence in policy and practice

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This book offers the first overview of the ‘wicked problems’ literature, often seen as complex, open-ended, and intractable, with both the nature of the ‘problem’ and the preferred ‘solution’ being strongly contested. It contextualises the debate using a wide range of relevant policy examples, explaining why these issues attract so much attention.

There is an increasing interest in the conceptual and practical aspects of how ‘wicked problems’ are identified, understood and managed by policy practitioners. The standard public management responses to complexity and uncertainty (including traditional regulation and market-based solutions) are insufficient. Leaders often advocate and implement ideological ‘quick fixes’, but integrative and inclusive responses are increasingly being utilised to recognise the multiple interests and complex causes of these problems. This book uses examples from a wide range of social, economic and environmental fields in order to develop new insights about better solutions, and thus gain broad stakeholder acceptance for shared strategies for tackling ‘wicked problems’.

Table of Contents:

• Introduction

• Debates in Public Policy—Problem Framing, Knowledge and Interests

• The Rise of ‘Wicked Problems’—Uncertainty, Complexity and Divergence

• Political Governance of Wicked Problems

• Complexity, Crises and Coping Strategies

• Managing Environmental and Sustainability Challenges

• Improving Social Well-Being and Social Equity

• Policy Innovation in Turbulent Times

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