08641 - Analysis of Public Policies

Academic Year 2022/2023

  • Moduli: Stefania Profeti (Modulo 1) Mattia Casula (Modulo 2)
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures (Modulo 1) Traditional lectures (Modulo 2)
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Political, Social and International Sciences (cod. 8853)

Learning outcomes

- acquire the theoretical knowledge relating to the structuring of the policy cycle, from the design phase to the implementation and evaluation of a policy
- assimilate the main tools for the analysis of public policies, consisting of the theoretical knowledge that concerns (among others) actors, policy process phases, and policy instruments
- understand the functioning of the main public policies in selected policy sectors (e.g. migration, health, education, etc.)
- strengthen critical and analytical skills for the analysis of public policies

Course contents

The course aims to provide students with the conceptual and analytical tools for the study of public policy, i.e. the set of decisions and activities related to the solution of collective problems.

In the first part of the course, some fundamental concepts and analytical categories will be explored, covering topics such as policy instruments, the models for public policy analysis and the policy cycle. The focus will be on policy actors, the instruments used in policy implementation and some theories related to policy analysis. The policy process will then be analysed through the segmentation into stages into which the policy cycle is usually divided: agenda setting, formulation, decision-making, implementation, evaluation (reference text: Bobbio, Pomatto and Ravazzi, 2017).

In the second part, the concepts and analytical tools will be applied to some specific policy areas (based on the text by Capano and Natalini, 2020).

Finally, the third part of the course will be devoted to the development and discussion of practical applications of what has been learnt for the analysis of specific public policies.

Readings/Bibliography

Compulsory readings

- Luigi Bobbio, Gianfranco Pomatto, Stefania Ravazzi, Le politiche pubbliche. Problemi, soluzioni, incertezze, conflitti, Mondadori, 2017.

- Giliberto Capano, Alessandro Natalini, Le Politiche Pubbliche in Italia, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2020. Introduction + Chapters 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. N.B. NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS MUST STUDY THE FULL VOLUME.

Background readings (not compulsory)

- Giliberto Capano, Marco Giuliani: Dizionario di Politiche Pubbliche, Roma, Carocci, 2005.

- Bruno Dente, Le decisioni di policy: Come si prendono, come si studiano, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2011.

- Michael Howlett, M. Ramesh, Come studiare le politiche pubbliche, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2003.

- Andrea Lippi, La valutazione delle politiche pubbliche, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2007.

Teaching methods

The course includes both lectures (particularly in the first part) and exercises and teamwork under the guidance of the teacher (particularly in the second and third parts).

Knowledge of Italian is required to attend lectures and study texts. However, it is also possible to take exams in English.

Course attendance is strongly recommended.

Assessment methods

ATTENDING STUDENTS

At the end of both the first and second parts of the course, students who are registered and who are attending classes may take a written INTERMEDIATE TEST.

The first intermediate test consists of 3 open-ended questions to be answered in max. 45 minutes (0 to 10 points for each answer). The questions are designed to test what has been learnt in the first part in order to assess the achievement of the learning objectives.

The second intermediate test consists of two think-out questions to be answered in max. 90 minutes (max. 15 points each). The questions are designed to test the ability to apply the conceptual tools learnt during the course and the analytical skills developed during the practical exercises.

Participation in the classroom exercises and teamwork will also be subject to specific assessment, and may be worth between 0 and 2 points, depending on the contribution of individual students to the collective work and discussions.

In the case of the two part-tests, the final mark will result from the average of the marks awarded for each test, plus the score obtained in terms of classroom participation.

NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS

For NON-attending students (or in any case for those who do not intend to take the two partial exams) there will be a single written final exam with 6 open-ended questions to be answered in 90 minutes (max. 5 points per answer). The test will focus on the following texts

- Luigi Bobbio, Gianfranco Pomatto, Stefania Ravazzi, Le politiche pubbliche. Problems, solutions, uncertainties, conflicts, Mondadori, 2017 (ALL CHAPTERS)

- Gilberto Capano, Alessandro Natalini, Le Politiche Pubbliche in Italia, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2020 (ALL CHAPTERS)

Evaluation grid:

18-22: sufficient preparation and ability to analyse, sufficient knowledge of the topics covered by the course, formulation of answers in correct language;
23-26: technically adequate preparation and ability to analyse, good knowledge of the topics covered by the course, adequate knowledge of specific terminology
27-29: very good preparation and ability to analyse, thorough knowledge of the topics covered by the course, mastering of specific terminology;
30-30L: excellent preparation and ability to analyse, in-depth knowledge of the topics covered by the course, ability to integrate answers with own knowledge and elaboration, mastering of specific terminology.

Teaching tools

Supplementary materials (worksheets, web portals, magazine and newspaper articles, etc.), which are intended for the exercises and case study presentations, will be made available online at https://virtuale.unibo.it/

During the course, powerpoint slides will be used, which will also be made available on https://virtuale.unibo.it/ before each lecture.

N.B. The slides are solely a teaching and content presentation tool and therefore do not replace the textbooks for carrying out the exam(s).

Office hours

See the website of Stefania Profeti

See the website of Mattia Casula

SDGs

Peace, justice and strong institutions

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.