B6168 - PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND PUBLIC POLICIES

Conoscenze e abilità da conseguire

The course intends to provide the theoretical and analytical tools to understand the functioning of public administrations by tracing the main transformations occurred in recent decades through the lenses of administration theory and complex organizations. At the end of the course students know: how to interpret the different roles played by different institutional actors, as well as the implications for the relationship between the public sector, the private sector and citizens; how to analyze multi-level governance structures; how to identify the major problems in the design and implementation of public policies based on empirical cases.

Contenuti

By the end of the course, students will be able to: 1) gain detailed knowledge about the basic concepts of public policy and administration; 2) evaluate the role of different policy tools within the context of national policies influenced by globalization and current grand, societal and environmental challenges; 3) understand the primary issues related to designing and implementing public policies and the involvement of public administrations in these processes; 4) interpret multi-level governance structures in which various public administrations collaborate with the private sector and citizens to deliver public services.

The first section will cover basic concepts for public policy and public administration analysis, including: concept and definition of public policy and public administration; types of policies; models of administrative reforms; policy instruments; traditional and modern theories about the policy cycle (agenda setting, formulation, decision, implementation, evaluation); the role of public administrations and other political and institutional actors in each stage of the policy process.

The second section will be structured as a seminar, aiming to apply the theoretical concepts and frameworks from the first section to specific case studies involving public administrations in designing and managing policy programs and delivering specific public services.

Testi/Bibliografia

Wilson, J.Q. (1995) Political Organizations, Princeton, Princeton University Press, ch. 16 only.

Moran, M., Rein, M., Goodin, R.E. (eds) (2006) The Oxford Handbook of Public Policy, Oxford, Oxford University Press, chapters 11, 22, 29 only.

Fischer, F., Miller, G.J., Sidney, M.S. (eds) (2007) Handbook of Public Policy Analysis, Boca Raton, CRC Press Taylor & Francis, chapters 6 and 7 only.

Sager, F., Mavrot, C., Keiser L.R. (2024), Handbook of Public Policy Implementation, Edward Elgar, chapter 28-34 only.

Scientific articles selected by the lecturer and made available on virtuale.unibo.it.

Lecture materials and lecture slides made available on virtuale.unibo.it

Metodi didattici

The course will begin with traditional frontal lectures in the first part. The second part will involve active participation from students, who are expected to take on a proactive role by reading materials, preparing for classes, and participating in discussions on the day's topic.

Attendance at lessons is highly recommended. Lecture slides and additional teaching materials such as case studies and exercises will be available on virtuale.unibo.it.

Modalità di verifica e valutazione dell'apprendimento

The final exam will cover the entire course material and will consist of 3 open-ended questions, with a maximum of 10.5 points for each question.

For students who regularly attend classes, the final grade will be based on the following parameters:

• 50% from the written midterm on the first part of the course (maximum 31.5 points);
• 50% from the quality of in-class participation and presentation of case studies (maximum 31.5 points).

The evaluation will consider students' ability to: a) appropriately use theoretical and methodological tools acquired during the course; b) master a scientifically adequate language to interpret the main orientations of modern institutions; c) establish correct connections between different topics covered in the course; d) discuss and present scientific papers; e) contextualize individual case studies within the main contemporary public policy and public administration theories.

Grading criteria are as follows:

- 30 cum laude (exceptional result, demonstrating extraordinary mastery of all material and many original contributions;equivalent to a score of 31.5)

- 28-30 (very good result, demonstrating excellent mastery of all the material and some original contributions)

- 26-27 (very good result, demonstrating solid mastery of all the material)

- 24-25 (good result, showing good mastery of some material)

- 21-23 (satisfactory result, demonstrating partial understanding of material)

- 18-20 (sufficient result, demonstrating just sufficient mastery of the material)

- 17 or lower (poor result, demonstrating insufficient understanding of the material)

Strumenti a supporto della didattica

- Power point slides;

- Consultation of websites and online archives;

- Presentation and discussion of case studies;

- Recommended readings and articles for further information;

- Thematic seminars held by consultants and experts.

Orario di ricevimento

Consulta il sito web di Mattia Casula