ABSTRACT

Aims of the chapter

To analyse the different areas of public policy.

To provide tools for analysing public policy from a human development perspective.

To outline the policy implications of the human development and capability approach.

Key Points

Public policy involves a course of action and a web of decisions, and cannot be associated with only one moment, one actor, one decision and one action.

Policy is political: the policy process is closely connected to the nature of power itself.

Policy analysis contains both ‘analysis of policy’ and ‘analysis for policy’; both contribute to ongoing policy development and implementation through the monitoring and evaluation functions that connect them.

A human development approach to policy analysis is based on the notion that all areas of public policy promote human freedom and flourishing, and that the policy process itself should respect people’s agency.

From the perspective of the human development and capability approach, some areas of public policy are more researched than others. Aggregate economic performance continues to dominate other policy paradigms in international, goals and practice although alternative views continue to grow.