Public policy making is a complex interactive process that is determined by a number of factors. For instance, the process is influenced by political, social and environmental factors that may result in variation of policies context. Due to the variations, the policies possess a number of peculiarities. The existing theories of policy making are considered to be insufficient since most of them were emerged form research that mainly focused on developed nations that are not sufficient due to their contextual variations. When considered in the context of functional activities, the last stage of the policy process is formulation, which entails the estimation, appraisal, and assessment of the policy content. Other elements comprise of policy implementation and goal attainment. Policy formulations underscore various factors that may result into their success or failure ( Anderson, 2015, p. 290). As such, it is crucial to understand the difference between policy output and outcome. Notably, the outcomes conducted by support of pursuing policy decisions. Further, policy outputs emphasize on issues such as tax collection and welfare benefits ( Anderson, 2015, p. 290). In contrast, policy outcomes are perceived as the consequences faced by the society, which may be intended or unintended. For instance, social welfare policies that are easy to measure.
The implication of a policy should be directed to consider the conduct of formal evaluation of the policy ( Anderson, 2015, p. 291). There are policies that may be detrimental and are directed to solve a problem of the population that are directly involved. They must be defined to determine the intended purpose of the policy. In situations where such purposes are intended, the analysis may turn out to be a complicated process because of the priorities assigned to the effects. Notably, the policies are intended to accomplish a portion of their goals and objectives. For example, rewards for the unemployed may enhance the economic situation designed by the proponents ( Fox, et al., 2006, p. 35) . A good example of a policy with negative unintended effects included financial deregulation. For this reason, policies may have detrimental impacts to a group of people other than those which they are directed to help. The example suggests a negative externality, which may also be positive. Therefore, most of the public policy outcomes can be meaningfully understood as externalities that impose costs or offer benefits for third parties ( Anderson, 2015, p. 292).
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Polices may have direct costs for the current and future conditions. For some of the policies, most of their benefits or some of their costs may occur in future. The future effects of the policies may be very uncertain. On the other hand, just as polices have positive effects or benefits, they are also associated with some costs, which may come in different forms. The direct costs include expenditures that are necessary to comply with the public policies. The indirect costs that are associated with public policies may cause distress or mental anguish and comprise of lost production and low wages. Public policies may be associated with opportunity costs. However, as noted, the effects may either be material or intangible. Thus, the effects of a symbol may be difficult to measure because of the outputs that produce no readily discernible change.
References
Anderson, J. E. (2015). Public Policymaking. Cengage Learning.
Fox, W., Bayat, M. S., & Ferreira, I. W. (2006). A guide to managing public policy . Cape Town: Juta.
