The nature of optimal public policy

Document Type

Journal article

Source Publication

International Journal of Social Economics

Publication Date

1-1-2000

Volume

27

Issue

7/8/9/10

First Page

1013

Last Page

1019

Publisher

Emerald Publishing Limited

Keywords

Public administration, Policy management, Decision making, Social responsibility

Abstract

The design of public policy must take human nature as an immutable constraint, both with a view to choosing the appropriate policy objectives and in regard to the human response and hence the effects of the policy. Once human nature is seen in the proper light and the multiple needs of society are recognized, it is not difficult to see the logic of a hierarchy of policy objectives with some being treated as tentative constraints and others as “maximands.” Optimal public policy making in the short term would treat those constraints as given but over the longer term the constraints themselves are also subject to revision by the “policy coordination centre.” Throughout this iterative process, public policy analysts will have done a great service if they can lay bare the trade-off among conflicting policy goals and the relationship between policy choice parameters and policy target variables.

DOI

10.1108/03068290010337422

Print ISSN

03068293

E-ISSN

17586712

Publisher Statement

Copyright © MCB University Press, 0306-8293

Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.

Full-text Version

Publisher’s Version

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Ho, L. S. (2000). The nature of optimal public policy. International Journal of Social Economics, 27(7/8/9/10), 1013-1019. doi: 10.1108/03068290010337422

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