Ethiopian Policies on the Urban

Reality (URP4182)

Urban Policy Design, Tools and

Models of Decision Making
EiABC

APRIL 2019
ADDIS ABABA

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 Presentation Outline
 Urban Policy Design
 Elements of Policy Design
 Urban Policy Tools
 Dimensions of Policy Tools
 Tools of Policy Analysis
 Components of Policy Analysis
 Urban Development Policy Model
 Conclusion

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 Session Objectives
 At the end of the Sessions, Participants will be
able to:
 identify the elements considered in policy design

 explain policy tools used to achieve desired outcomes

 appreciate the value of policy analysis tools in the

policy process.

 Explain application of selected models in the

formulation of appropriate urban policy.

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 Urban Policy Design
 It is a process by which policies are designed
through technical analysis and political process

 Policy is enacted and then implemented

 The will of executive and legislative branches is

translated into actual urban development policy
out comes

 Policy design is inseparable from the policy

implementation
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 Elements of Policy Design

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 Urban Policy Tools
 Policy tools are also referred to as policy
instruments

 Tools can be used to create a desired outcome

 Policy tools are elements in policy design that

cause agents or targets to do something they
would not do otherwise

 It involves modifying behavior to solve public

problems or to attain policy goals
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 Urban Policy Tools…
 Dimensions of urban policy tools:

 Nature of urban development activity

 Structure of delivering urban development

aspects

 Degree of centralization of urban development

issues

 Degree of automaticity of the urban

development policy tool
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 Tools of Policy Analysis

 Policy analysis uses qualitative and quantitative

research tools to inform policy makers' efforts in
areas such as:

 Health care, Education, Taxes, Energy,

National Security etc…

 Analysis helps to study public problems and

assess various proposals to alleviate them

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 Tools of Policy Analysis…
 Tools of policy analysis include:

 Sustainable Livelihood Approach

 Case Studies

 Cost Benefit Analysis

 Statistical Models

 Decision Tree etc…

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 Tools of Policy Analysis…
 Sustainable Livelihoods Approach

 It illustrates the need for interventions that: highlight

and address important policy areas

 Such areas include:

 Policy linkages previously underdeveloped

 Improve policy making processes
 Improve mechanisms of policy implementation
 Strengthen organisational capacity for policy
implementation.
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 Components of SL Policy Analysis

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Kath Pasteur, 2011
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 Models of Decision Making
in Urban Development Policies
 A model: is a simplified representation of some
aspect of the real world e.g. Model airplane

 Decision making is:

Regarded as a mental processes

Results in the selection of a course of action

among several alternative scenarios

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 Types of Models
 Institutional Model

 Process Model

 Rational Model

 Incremental Model

 Group Model

 Elite Model

 Public Choice Model

 Game theory Model

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 Institutional Model
 Government institutions are source of decision
making

 Government lends legitimacy to policies

 Government policies have legal obligations

 Government policies involve universality

 Government monopolizes coercion in society

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 Process Model

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 Rational Model
 Considers Policies as maximum social gain

 Assumes complete agreement on:

 Goals, knowledge of alternative policies, ability to calculate and select the

policies with the greatest benefits and least costs

 Governments to choose policies resulting in gains to society

 No policy should be adopted if its costs exceed its benefits

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 Incremental Model
 Assumes that urban development policy makers rarely examine past policies

 It also assumes that they focus their attention on changes in policies and
expenditures

 It is a continuation of the past government activities with only incremental

modifications e.g. budget policy

 This model tends to be conservative

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 Group Model
 It assumes that urban development policy is a balance of interest
group influence

 Interaction among groups is the central fact of urban development.

 Individuals with common interests band together formally or

informally to press their demands on government

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 Elite Model

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 Public Choice Model
 Involves making decisions by self interested individuals

 Public choice is the economic study of non market decision-making

 Assumes that all urban development actors seek to maximize their

personal benefits

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 Game Theory Model
 Policy as Rational Choice in comparative Situation

 Rational decision makers are involved in choices that are interdependent

 Mostly applied in international conflicts: nuclear weapons , international

diplomacy etc…

 Policymakers adjust their conduct to reflect their own preferences but also the
likely choices of opponents

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 Conclusion
 Policies are designed through both technical
and political process to achieve a particular goal

 Policy design is inseparable from policy

implementation

 Several tools of policy analysis

 Models enhance decision making

in urban development policies
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 Class Exercise
 In groups 5, select one model

i. Institutional

ii. Process

iii. Rational

 Evaluate the applicability of the selected model in the formulation of an appropriate

policy design for Addis Ababa City

 Presentation and discussion of group findings

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 Guiding Questions
 Discuss the major policy tools used in policy
analysis

 Explain the various policy models used in decision

making during the policy process?

 Identify and explain the main elements in policy

design and tools used during the design process?

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 Some References
 Angel, S. 2000. Housing Policy Matters. A Global Analysis. New
York: Oxford University Press.
 Thomas, R.D 2011. Understanding public policy, Longman, New
York.
 Thomas, R.D 2005. Understanding public policy, Longman, New
York.
 Thomas, A. 2001. An introduction to the policy process,
M.E.Sharpe England.
 Watson, J .2001. An introduction of the game theory. New York:
W.W.Norton.
 Truman, D. B 1984. The Government Process. New York: Knopf.
 http://www.livelihoods.org/info/info_guidancesheets.html.
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 Comments/Questions

Thank you!

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