53 5.1 – MEETING GOALS

MEETING GOALS

The first step in policy design is to start with the goal. By goal, we mean the desired outcome of a policy. At this point in the process, individuals or groups have already identified a problem, indicators or focusing events have put the spotlight on that problem, the public has supported a solution, and policymakers are prepared to act. But what do policymakers expect to happen once the policy is implemented? Is the goal of the policy to eliminate a problem? Perhaps, the goal is to keep the problem from getting worse.

Stone (2002) describes public policy as the “rational attempt to attain objectives and goals.” Objectives are “specific, quantified targets that represent steps toward accomplishing goals” (Worth, 2016). Public policy goals incorporate four major concepts: equity, efficiency, security, and liberty (Stone, 2002). To note, while these concepts are referred to as goals, they are perhaps more appropriately described as policy justifications or even criteria for evaluating policy efficacy. What’s more, while equity, efficiency, security, and liberty appear to be straightforward concepts, in truth, they have the potential to complicate political debates and introduce ambiguity and doubt. Each concept is continuously redefined and constructed by society. Take equity, for example; our perceptions of this term continually evolve. Throughout much of American history, black and female citizens were not treated with equity. Expanding fair and equitable treatment to these groups was not a priority for many elected officials. Now, unequal treatment plays a central role in policy debates. Policymakers use these terms to frame their positions while attempting to convince others that their interpretation best fits the broader concepts. As Stone writes, “In a paradoxical way, the concepts unite people at the same time as they divide” (Stone, 2002).