The biggest part of any policy development is understanding the problem in society that needs to be addressed. Therefore, two of these papers first focus on conducting a problem analysis and then follow up with a review of the policy that was developed to address the problem. Students must choose problems and related policies that were not the focus in assignment/paper #1
Problem and Policy Review
Public policies set the framework for governance throughout the world. Understanding the impact and consequences of these policies is an important part of understanding public administration. As we read and discuss in Pal’s book, “policy analysis is a process of multidisciplinary inquiry designed to create, critically assess, and communicate information that is useful in understanding and improving policies” (Dunn, 2008, P. 1 as quoted in Pal, 2013, p. 15). The purpose of the PA 680 policy reviews is to analyze a federal, state, or local policy that is currently in action.

The analysis of your problem and policy should include, but is not limited to, the following questions. Use them as guidelines to the content of your paper.

1. Introduction to the policy and the problem it is trying to solve. Additionally, you need to discuss the methodology you will use to develop this analysis in this section.
2. Analysis of the problem. This includes:
• What is the problem in society that is being addressed by this policy?
• This problem must be relevant to life in the Inland Empire or the southern California region we live in.
• What are the costs of the problem or policy, (financial, societal, or both)?
• What is the origin or source to this problem?
• Is it a problem that can be solved? Without limits or under reasonable/likely conditions?
• Should it be solved by government or is it better solved through the private or non-profit sectors?
• Make sure you provide data and indicators to make your case.
3. Detailed description of the policy. This includes:
• What are the policy goals?
• Which level of government developed the policy? Which level is implementing the solution? Are these two different? If so, why?
• Major stakeholders involved. What was the initial intent of the policy? Who is expected to benefit from the policy?
• Is there another group that is actually impacted (positively or negatively?) by the policy? Who (person, agency, organization?) worked to get the policy put into place and why? Who developed the policy?
• Are there any international actors or influences in the development of this policy?
• Are there any possible international impacts from this policy?
4. Discussion of the policy implementation.
• What are the instruments being used?
• Who is implementing the policy?
• What is the role of bureaucracy?
• What are the costs to implement this program? How many people are served?
5. Results of the policy
• How effective has the policy been?
• What are the limitations to the policy? Are the limitations greater than the successes or vice versa?
• What would be better direction for the policy? What corrections would you suggest be made to make the policy more effective?
6. Conclusions