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