27 Mar At which point(s) in the policymaking cycle would policy analysis be especially helpful or important?

Write short paragraph responses to each question – about 200 words per question or 800 words in total (“1000 words” is acceptable) – and post directly into the forum. You must create a thread in order to view other threads in this forum. Follow the discussion board participation guidelines in the syllabus.

This week, contribute to the following topics:

1. At which point(s) in the policymaking cycle would policy analysis be especially helpful or important? (studying the problem, studying policy alternatives, and evaluations/changes). Explain using practical examples.

2. Consider the case of using cell phones while driving a car, whether for talking or texting. Given the information provided in Chapter 4 of Kraft and Furlong, would you favor restricting drivers’ use of handheld cell phones? What about hands-free cell phones? What about restrictions on texting? How would you defend this policy choice?

3. States are often innovators or early adopters of policies that are later embraced by the federal government. For example, in the early 1990s, the state of Wisconsin developed several innovative approaches to welfare reform called W2. Some of Wisconsin’s methods were employed later by the Clinton administration in its major welfare overhaul in 1996. Which other states are innovating in various areas that might be useful to federal policymakers? (Consider immigration, marijuana, marriage equality, climate change, more.)

4. Wouldn’t it be a much more efficient approach to invest in the prevention of health concerns than in caring for the growing number of obese Americans with heart disease and diabetes? How do you explain the fact that the United States has not invested extensively in prevention programs, which have been shown to be much more efficient policies?

Sources that must be used:

Kraft and Furlough Chapter 4