ABSTRACT
The typology framework was an attempt to redefine how policy and political scientists conceptualize the process of policymaking. Moreover, it was a bold attempt to put the discipline of public policy at the forefront of the study of politics. The emphasis on policy classification, though justified, has slowed theory development. The typology framework is also static, ignoring the evolution of policies and political dynamics. Brian Cook notes that "the focus should instead be on how policy ideas shape policymaker expectations and the patterns of politics that result, especially which types of political actors are empowered". The stages model conceives of public policy as the product of the linear progression of political events. Problems are put on the agenda, there is debate over potential solutions, legislatures adopt alternatives on the basis of practical or partisan favor, bureaucracies implement them, and some impact is felt on the real world.
