Public Policy

Literature review

Macroeconomic analysis

Model of reasoning

Public Policy project

Literature review

The first part of any policy (and the main part of policy analysis) is the review of what specialists wrote about the situation (~what was supposed to be done and what was done or not).

• You may find that the problem has already been solved, or vice versa, it was never even mentioned, so you will be the first to point it out.
• If you haven’t find information about the chosen country, you can take other countries as an example of success.

Usually the literature review includes as many related publications as possible, let's say 10 and up. If you find one large monograph, you can use it as one main publication. However the list of references has to be 10 and up anyway - search for references about historical, cultural and economic background as well.

The critical analysis of publications is not necessary, it just a snapshot of the problem, the main idea and has a goal to show that you not just come out of blue with your interest to the issue, but read about it and make some conclusions.

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Literature review

It is not necessary to make Literature review ready on paper as essay.

Find the publications and underline the main points which is relevant to your subject. It will be like a mosaic. If you have difficulties with conclusions, we will discuss it together in class.

Examples:

1.Source: A. Smith. Poverty in Afghanistan. International journal of development 82 (2021): 1-14.

This article describes how decentralization has been promoted by many international organizations in order to improve education access and quality. The authors focused on explaining “how and why decentralization...

2.Source: B.Brown, Poverty in Peru.International journal 77 (2020):33-56.

This article points the main reasons for… and the ways for solution. However ….

All findings in the papers will be used later in your project. When you will describe the current situation in the country or backgrounds of the problem, you will mention the sources in brackets [number of source in references]. I am sure you saw it many times in any publications before.

Making review is never easy, this is real scientific approach and you are not scientists (yet), but it is very useful skill and will be handy in future.

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Literature review: how to

Definition. A literature review is a comprehensive summary of previous research on a topic. The literature review surveys scholarly articles, books, and other sources relevant to a particular area of research. The review should enumerate, describe, summarize, objectively evaluate and clarify this previous research.

Step 1. Open "google scholar" or any other link I provided in your browser, write the keywords - country, problem etc. Have a look at what you get. If you get a list of article's titles which look not relevant - make changes in key words.

Step 2. Google scholar's links allow you to see the abstracts. They include all info about the research, results and conclusions, so it is not necessary to read the entire paper, unless the subject is really important.

Step 3. Make a list of main ideas related to your topic. Do not forget to save the references. The literature review is 2-3 coherently written paragraphs about all you dug. The goal - to find what was done and what wasn't, so you could offer a new solution, or similar, which was successful in other countries.

Macroeconomic analysis

Use https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries for any country

there is already decent macroeconomic analysis. Look into the numbers, there may be some interesting dynamics.

For instance - have a look at growth temps for last 2-3 years (maybe you know the reason for that), GDP per capita will tell you dynamic as well, however, if the country has a high level of corruption or monopolization (see what products are for export), it will be not a sign of successful development.

Check if there any positive dynamic in unemployment, poverty, literacy etc.

Check if agriculture and other components are effective - %% in GDP to %% in the corresponding labourforce.

Government spending shows if there is a room for efficient government intervention

The model of reasoning – is a rational part of DM�What is first? What is consequences?�

• 1. Identify objectives
• 2. Identify alternatives of actions for the achieving objectives
• 3. Predict the possible consequences of each alternative
• 4. Evaluate the possible consequences of each alternative
• 5. Select the best alternative (max)

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• This model usually related to model of Political reasoning

Model of reasoning: How to

• Place your problem in the center
• At the left side place all reasons (inputs)
• At the right side – outputs, consequences and final costs of the problem

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• Sometimes the inputs are the continuation of outputs, so it will be a cycle.
• Outputs and inputs themselves could have own intuits and outputs
• Poverty has to be one of reasons and/or consequences

Example 1. Unemployment reasoning model (India)

Example 2

Example 3. Youth unemployment.

Caribbean.

Cycle of poverty

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Model of reasoning

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Poverty cycles

Poverty and Education of Children with Disability. Case of Public Policy Issues in Ethiopia

• The problem: only 29.27% of Children with disability attending school programs.

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Model of reasoning for education issues in Vietnam

The problem: 60% of youth (ages 15-24) are not completing the secondary school

Final presentation

Slide 1 – Title, the country of interest, name (type) of policy,

Slide 2 – Country’ description, interesting facts, what it is known/famous for, etc - region’ characteristics. Historical and cultural context of the problem.

Slide 3 – Problem description and short history of the problem: historical and cultural context

Slide 4 - Macroeconomic and political background

Slide 5 - Model of reasoning, model of society in the country

Slide 6 - What happens if this problem continues?

Slide 7 - Existing policy (Existing model of policy making) and policy perspectives

Slide 8 - Comparison with other countries - facts and policy examples

Slide 9 - Policy recommendations (solution) and prospective results

Slide 10- Conclusions

10-15 min, 10-12 slides in PowerPoint. The plan and slides’ order are very approximate.

Plan for the final paper (final exam)

• Title
• Abstract – a brief summary of the problem and its solution, usually one paragraph (what the project is about)
• Introduction - a brief history of the problem, facts about the country and an outline for the paper - work plan (what were you interested in when you started the project? What questions were you going to answer? Why is it important to answer these questions?)
• Part 1.Historical, cultural, ethnic, religious, economic and political background of the problem (including macroeconomic analysis, model or description of society, etc.)
• Part 2. The existing model of policy making in the country and a critical analysis of the issues and flaws of the current regulation (current state of the problem). Examples - positive and negative - from other countries - (don't forget the links!)
• Part 3. Model of reasoning and the ways for the solutions (this part may be without references because these are your ideas). Add a comparison with other countries to show how these ideas might work in future.
• Conclusions, policy recommendations - answers for the questions listed in the introduction and a brief summary.
• List of references

Poster Tips - In case you're going to make one

The trick with the poster - you shouldn't include much descriptions, but facts for discussion.

Less words - more facts.

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Your poster shouldn’t replace your presentation, but invite to discussion - do not include much text

Text is less readable than graphs and numbers arranged in the table

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You can change the formats, fonts - anything.

The more photo - the better - you can send it to background or make small

Do not forget small map and basic facts about the country.

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The approximate example of the poster is on the next slide.

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2022 students:

Poster is not required, but can be submitted to CUA Spring conference

Title – poverty in the country

Problem

short history of the problem, existing policy, facts about country and questions

Model

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Of reasoning

solution

Macroeconomic analysis

Economic facts about the country and the countries you compare with in a Table

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Highlight the potentials

Solutions

And potentials for economy

Conclusions  - Policy recommendations

And the answers for the questions

Cultural and historic specifics

Additional facts related to solutions –

examples from other countries etc.

your name

@sources of the data

Short list of publications used in the project