LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to illustrate the main theories related to the studies of public policies, with particular focus on policy-making phases, actors involved, policy instruments, quality and outcomes of the decision-making processes. In particular, both theoretical models and empirical concerns related to the evaluation of policies will be illustrated by the anlysis of specific and paradigmatic public policies both at national and European level.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide theoretical, analytical and empirical tools for the analysis of public policies. Students will improve their skills and critical judgment over reading, interpretation and evaluation of public policy programs, at local, national and supranational level. 

More specifically, the teaching objectives include:

- in-depth knowledge of dynamics and processes of policy making in order to understand actual policies;

- ability to apply theoretical and analitica tools to evaluate all phases of the policy-making process;

- autonomy of judgment in relation to the scientific theories of the discipline and to the methods of political science.

TEACHING METHODS

The course is in Italian language and is divided into two parts. In the first, concepts, processes, dynamics and actors of public policies will be presented and analyzed. In the second part, the attention will be focused on the main theoretical and empirical tools useful for the evaluation of public policies.

Both parts of the course foresee an active participation of students through presentations and individual insights on case studies. Additional material (readings and powerpoints presentations) will be provided by the teacher during the lessons and will be available on Aulaweb.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course develops around a series of issues at the center of the international debate on public policies and, in particular, it aims to integrate the study of public policies within a broader context that takes into consideration different level of analysis: the political, the technical and the relational ones (cooperation and relations between the various branches of public administration and private / public), without forgetting the multi-level dimension in which the policies are implemented: local, national and supranational level.

Some of the key questions that will be addressed are:

- What is a public policy?
- what is the relationship between politics and policies?
- when and why does an issue enter in the institutional agenda?
- who impacts on the policy making?
- which are the strategies used to achieve public policy decisions?
- which are the mechanisms involved in the policy-making process?
- what happens during the implementation phase of a public policy?
- which theoretical perspectives and which techniques can be used to evaluate public policies?
- how do public policies change and why?
- what role does the public administration play  in the implementation phase?
- when does the European Union affect national policies?

During the lessons examples and case studies concerning Italy, European and extra-European countries will be presented and discussed in order to answer the above questions.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

For students who will attend classes (70% of the classes)

1. B. Dente, Le decisioni di policy, Bologna, il Mulino, 2011;
2. A. La Spina e E. Espa, Analisi e valutazione delle politiche pubbliche, Bologna, il Mulino, 2011

​For students who will NOT attend the classes 

1. B. Dente, Le decisioni di policy, Bologna, il Mulino, 2011;
2. A. La Spina e E. Espa, Analisi e valutazione delle politiche pubbliche, Bologna, il Mulino, 201;
3. L. Lanzalaco e A. Prontera, Politiche pubbliche comparate, Bologna, il Mulino, 2012