Weekly Topics and Assigned Readings

Part I: Introduction to Public Policy and Policy Process

Week 1 (9/3) Introduction

• What is public policy?


• Readings
  
  
  
  • Policy Concepts in 1000 Words: What is Policy?
  
  
  • Martin et al. Ch1.2–1.4: What is Public Policy & Why and How to Study Public Policy (pp.1–5)
  
  
  
  

Week 2 (9/10) Policy Cycle and Stages

• How are public policies developed?


• Readings
  
  
  
  • Martin et al. Ch3.8–3.10: Policy Process & Stages (pp.45–49)
  
  
  • Policy Concepts in 1000 Words: The Policy Cycle and its Stages
  
  
  
  

Week 3 (9/17) Multiple Streams

• How does policy change happen?


• Readings
  
  
  
  • Policy Concepts in 1000 Words: Multiple Streams Analysis
  
  
  • Martin et al. Ch4.7: Policy Streams And “Windows” of Opportunity (pp.61–65)
  
  
  • Dool, A. V. D., & Schlaufer, C. (2024). The multiple streams framework beyond democracies: Reflections on existing and future research. International Review of Public Policy, 6(6:3). 1–26.
  
  
  
  

Part II: Policy Analysis: From Problem(s) to Solution(s)

Week 4 (9/24) Problem Identification and Agenda Setting

• Who decides which issues to prioritize, and how?


• Readings
  
  
  
  • Martin et al. Ch4.2–Ch4.6 & Ch4.9: Problem Identification and Agenda Setting (pp.54–61, & pp.66–72) & Ch7.2–7.3: The Policy Analysis Process/ Identify and Define the Problem (pp.124–126)
  
  
  • Zhang, M., Chen, Z., Liu, X., & Liu, J. (2024). Theory and practice of agenda setting: understanding media, bot, and public agendas in the South Korean presidential election. Asian Journal of Communication, 34(1), 24–56.
  
  
  
  

Week 5 (10/1) Policy Alternatives

• Where do policy options come from?


• Readings
  
  
  
  • Martin et al. Ch1.5: Types of Public Policy (pp.5–8) & Ch7.4 Identify Alternatives (pp.126–127)
  
  
  • Holland, A. C., & Schneider, B. R. (2017). Easy and hard redistribution: The political economy of welfare states in Latin America. Perspectives on Politics, 15(4), 988–1006.
  
  
  
  


• Optional Readings
  
  
  
  • Dubash, N. K., & Morgan, B. (2012). Understanding the rise of the regulatory state of the South. Regulation & Governance, 6(3), 261-281.
  
  
  • Bardach, E., & Patashnik, E. M. (2023). Appendix B: Things Governments Do. A practical guide for policy analysis: The eightfold path to more effective problem solving. CQ Press.
  
  
  
  


• Assignment
  
  
  
  • Policy Analysis Project (1): Problem Statement Due 10/7
  
  
  
  

Week 6 (10/8) Evaluation Criteria and Policy Trade-off

• How to determine which option is the best one?


• Readings
  
  
  
  • Martin et al. Ch5.2–Ch5.6: Equity, Efficiency, Security, and Liberty (pp.81–88), Ch7.5–7.6: Establish Evaluation Criteria & Evaluate The Alternatives (pp.127–130)
  
  
  • How Should We Balance Efficiency and Equality? Chicago Booth Review.
  
  
  • Cheek, N. N., Reutskaja, E., & Schwartz, B. (2022). Balancing the freedom–security trade-off during crises and disasters. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 17(4), 1024-1049.
  
  
  
  

Week 7 (10/15) Cost-benefit Analysis

• How to weigh pros and cons?


• Readings
  
  
  
  • Cellini, S. R., & Kee, J. E. (2015). Cost‐effectiveness and cost‐benefit analysis. In Newcomer, K. E., Hatry, H. P., & Wholey, J. S. (Eds.). Handbook of practical program evaluation (pp. 636-672). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass & Pfeiffer Imprints, Wiley.
  
  
  • Shanahan, M., & Ritter, A. (2014). Cost benefit analysis of two policy options for cannabis: status quo and legalisation. PloS One, 9(4), e95569.
  
  
  
  


• Assignment
  
  
  
  • Peer Interaction (1): Issues Evaluation and Ranking Due 10/21
  
  
  
  

Week 8 (10/22) Decision Making

• How do policymakers make decisions?


• Readings
  
  
  
  • Martin et al. Ch5.9–Ch5.12: Policy Formulation and Decision Making Theories (pp.91–95)
  
  
  • Policy Concepts in 1000 Words: Bounded Rationality and Incrementalism
  
  
  • Etzioni, A. (1967). Mixed-scanning: A “third” approach to decision making. Public Administration Review, 27(5). 385–392.
  
  
  
  

Week 9 (10/29) The Limits of Policy Analysis

• Can policy analysis solve everything?


• Readings
  
  
  
  • Ghimire, R. P. (2006). The Limits of Analysis in Policy Making with Special Reference to the Developing Countries.
  
  
  • Turner, R. K. (2007). Limits to CBA in UK and European environmental policy: retrospects and future prospects. Environmental and Resource Economics, 37, 253-269.
  
  
  
  


• Assignment
  
  
  
  • Policy Analysis Project (2): Alternative Evaluations Due 11/4
  
  
  
  

Part III: Policy Advocate: From Proposal to Adoption

Week 10 (11/5) Political Feasibility and Stakeholders Analysis

• Who are the key players in the policymaking process?


• Readings
  
  
  
  • Policy Analysis in 750 Words: Political feasibility and policy success
  
  
  • Lee, M., Yoon, J. H., Yang, J. E., Namkoong, S., & Kim, H. (2024). Stakeholder analysis for effective implementation of water management system: Case of groundwater charge in South Korea. Heliyon, 10(3).
  
  
  
  


• Optional Readings
  
  
  
  • Gilson, L., Erasmus, E., Borghi, J., Macha, J., Kamuzora, P., & Mtei, G. (2012). Using stakeholder analysis to support moves towards universal coverage: lessons from the SHIELD project. Health Policy and Planning, 27, i64-i76.
  
  
  
  

Week 11 (11/12) Policy Broker vs. Entrepreneur

• Who pushes the policy change?


• Readings
  
  
  
  • Martin et al. Ch4.8: Advocacy Coalitions (pp.65–66)
  
  
  • Policy Concepts in 1000 Words: The Advocacy Coalition Framework
  
  
  • Hammond, D. R. (2013). Policy Entrepreneurship in China’s Response to Urban Poverty. Policy Studies Journal, 41(1), 119-146.
  
  
  
  


• Optional Readings
  
  
  
  • Pholsim, S. (2021). How dreams are driven: An analysis of advocacy coalition framework on Khon Kaen’s light rail transit project in Thailand. Journal of Public Administration, Public Affairs, and Management, 19(2), 1–23.
  
  
  
  


• Assignment
  
  
  
  • Peer Interaction (2): Decision Making Assignment Due 11/18
  
  
  
  

Week 12 (11/19) Iron Triangle

• Why is it so hard to push policy change?


• Readings
  
  
  
  • Policy Concepts in 1000 Words: Networks, sub-government and communities
  
  
  • Huang, G. C. L., & Chen, R. Y. (2021). Uncovering regime resistance in energy transition: Role of electricity iron triangle in Taiwan. Environmental Policy and Governance, 31(2), 104-115.
  
  
  
  


• Optional Readings
  
  
  
  • Andrews‐Speed, P., & Putra, N. A. (2024). Breaking the iron triangle around nuclear safety regulation: The cases of France, Japan, and India. Regulation & Governance, 18(4), 1246-1263.
  
  
  
  

Week 13 (11/26) Framing, Media, and Public Opinions

• Does it matter how you describe the policy?


• Readings
  
  
  
  • Policy Concepts in 1000 Words: Framing
  
  
  • Wiest, S. L., Raymond, L., & Clawson, R. A. (2015). Framing, partisan predispositions, and public opinion on climate change. Global Environmental Change, 31, 187-198.
  
  
  
  


• Optional Readings
  
  
  
  • Park, C., & Lee, J. (2020). Stakeholder framing, communicative interaction, and policy legitimacy: anti-smoking policy in South Korea. Policy Sciences, 53(4), 637-665.
  
  
  
  

Week 14 (12/3) Social Constructions

• Who deserves?


• Readings
  
  
  
  • Policy Concepts in 1000 Words: the Social Construction of Target Populations
  
  
  • Ormond, M., & Nah, A. M. (2020). Risk entrepreneurship and the construction of healthcare deservingness for ‘desirable’,‘acceptable’and ‘disposable’migrants in Malaysia. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 46(20), 4282-4302.
  
  
  
  


• Assignment
  
  
  
  • Policy Analysis Project (3): Stakeholder Analysis Due 12/9
  
  
  
  

Week 15 (12/10) Policy Narrative

• Who are the heroes and who are the villains?


• Readings
  
  
  
  • Policy in 500 Words: the Narrative Policy Framework
  
  
  • Jung, Y. H., & Huang, Z. X. (2024). Seeking the high ground: Exploring advocacy groups’ use of policy narratives in the legalization of same‐sex marriage in Taiwan. Policy Studies Journal, 52(3), 671-696.
  
  
  
  

Week 16 (12/17) Presentation: Policy Advocate Press Conference

• Assignments
  
  
  
  
  • Peer Interaction Activity (3): Stakeholder Engagement
  
  
  
  

TA: Selena Vondra

Email: selenavondrah@gmail.com

1. Public Policy Analysis Project (40%)
   
   
   
   1. Problem Statement (10%). Due 10/7.
   
   
   2. Alternatives Evaluation (10%). Due. 11/4.
   
   
   3. Stakeholder Analysis (10%). Due 12/9.
   
   
   4. Oral Presentation (10%). Policy Advocate Press Conference on 12/17.
   
   
   
   


2. Peer Interaction Activity (30%)
   
   
   
   1. Issues Evaluation and Ranking (10%). Due 10/21.
   
   
   2. Decision Making (10%). Due 11/18.
   
   
   3. Stakeholder Engagement (10%). Depending on class size and time, this activity may be conducted either orally during the presentation (on 12/17) or via a written survey afterward (Due 12/19).
   
   
   
   


3. Course Participation (30%)
   
   
   
   1. Pre-class reading memo (20%) (Week 3 to Week 15). Due the day before the class. You get three free skips; Total 10 memos required for submission; Each memo worth 2%.
   
   
   2. Attendance in in-class participation (10%): You are allowed up to three absences without needing to provide a reason. Any additional absences must comply with the National Chengchi University Student Leave of Absence Rules (國立政治大學學生請假規則).
   
   
   
   

Late Submission Policy: Written works are due at 23:59 on the stated date. Late submissions will lose 10 percent of the available points for each 24-hour period past the deadline, unless the instructor has approved an extension in advance or grants a waiver afterward due to an unforeseen emergency. For assignments that involve peer review, a significant delay in submission might result in losing the opportunity to get peer feedback, but the instructor would still give feedback on the assignment. For oral presentation, a missing attendance without approval and rearrangement with the instructor will result in a grade of 0.

Guidelines for the use of Generative AI Tools in the Classroom

• The use of AI tools for basic proofreading is allowed and does not require acknowledgment.


• Any use of AI beyond basic proofreading and text editing must be fully acknowledged, including where and how the AI was used.


• Strictly prohibited:
  
  
  
  • Use AI tools to generate content for assignments without meaningful input from the student.
  
  
  • Input or upload classmates’ work into AI tools. You also may not share their work with anyone outside the class without the author’s permission. This is not an issue of AI use, but one of protecting your peers’ privacy and intellectual property rights.
  
  
  
  


• Violating this policy will be treated as plagiarism. Consequences may include receiving a zero for the relevant component or the entire assignment. In serious cases, the violation will be reported to the university.

Textbook: 

• Martin, Kimberly, Lee Jr, Keith E., & Hall, John Powell. Public Policy: Origins, Practice, and Analysis. University of North Georgia Press. Dahlonega, Georgia. https://web.ung.edu/media/university-press/public-policy.pdf. 

All other assigned readings are available from the course website.