Case Summary for Public Policy and the Role of Government

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A third feature which greatly affects policy making process in the Philippines is the multilateral international influences which makes us reliant on foreign experts and development models. This is exemplified by the government’s adherence to privatization and other related policies. The previous Administrations had pushed some of the other related policies, specifically that of decentralization through the enactment of 1991 Local Government Code and other laws emphasizing on decentralization. There are also other policies which also strengthened the policies on privatization, liberalization and deregulation.

The author however, took note that certain policy innovations which originated from a particular country had been implemented or adopted as our own, even though such policies had already been discredited or gone out of fashion by their country of origin. An example of this is privatization which is very popular internationally, but has reached its limits in applicability in some other countries. It is worthy to note, according to the author, “Privatization and other policies have been premised on the idea that development is served with the diminution of the state.” In some concept, the priority or supremacy given to private enterprise had been considered as a reason for economic progress of some East Asian countries, at the depreciation in the capacities of government. Thus, it has been of the opinion of some scholars that the state was not given the due credit for it positive contributions to development in East Asia and in other countries.

However, there are still other countries which believe that central planning, public enterprises and other forms of economic participation have played a crucial part in their economic development. For them, both governments and private enterprises had wide-ranging structures by having small domestic firms and multinational companies participating as major sources and influences of their countries state policies. They have adopted different combinations of policies and strategies that vary logically in different situations and time, and not relying solely on a monotonous manner of thinking in policy making.

This has been emphasized in the article. A logical rather than an idealistic methodology to development issues and policy making which also contribute to a country’s independence from doctrinaire policy prescriptions and makes a country self-reliant in its policy making process.

Also, the author also mentioned, that different indicators may be used to describe the role of the state and its scope, modality and content. Tax and spending levels, the range of the production and provision functions performed, and the size of the workforce hired directly or indirectly by the state are among the key dimensions. While the size may be smaller than the actual scope and role, government may undertake any functions indirectly through contracting and other forms.

Size affects vital elements of government and the economy. The payroll, total budget, organizational complexity, and ability to perform are legitimate concerns that may bring about proposals to downsize government bureaucracy.

As to employment size, it was studied that richer countries had larger bureaucracies rather than poorer ones in both absolute terms and in relation to their populations, and especially in their state and local central governments, while poorer countries have had comparatively more in their central governments and public enterprises.

Worthy to mention is that for the author, that the government sometimes find massive cutbacks and moratorium on government employment would be a positive contribution to reduce the issue, but as per the words of the author, the unkindest cut of all, for it can be referred to as contradiction to government policies of foreign debt servitude, and a merciless austerity for public servants.

Thus, the author concluded that policy making is strongly affected by the reigning administration. This is undeniable and unevitable, for the policies which are being crafted depends on the necessities as per need by a present government and its leaders, which have their own fundamental principles and concepts .

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