POLI 359 Public Policy Making Session 2-Ideology and Public Policy - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

College of Education School of Continuing and Distance Education

2016/2017

POLI 359 Public Policy Making

Session 2-Ideology and Public Policy

Lecturer: Dr . Kuyini Abdulai Mohammed, Dept. of Political Science Contact Information: akmohammed@ug.edu.gh

godsonug.wordpress.com/blog

What is Ideology?

Slide 2

• Ideology is a set of ideas or beliefs that underpin a

social, economic and political system.

• Ideology is a worldview that allows an individual or

group both to interpret the way things are and to suggest the way things ought to be.

• Ideologies are guides to political action that give us

ideal to believe in, goals to strive for and tell for what causes to fight.

• Ideology is a collection of ideas held by an

individual, group or society.

What is IdeologLJ? ;ĐoŶt’d฀:

Slide 3

• Ideology is a set of conscious and unconscious ideas that

ŵake up oŶe’s ďeliefs, edžpeĐtatioŶs aŶd motivations.

• Ideology is a comprehensive normative vision that is

followed by people, government or other groups that is considered the concrete way by the majority of the population.

• Ideology is a said of ideas proposed by the dominant

class

• f society such the elite for all members of society.
• Ideology is a system of abstracted meaning applied to

society thus making this concept central to politics.

Ideology and Policy Prescriptions

Slide 4

Different ideological viewpoints offer dissimilar policy prescriptions on:

• The balance between individual and collective rights and

responsibilities in society

• The relationship between women and men and the nature
• f the family
• The virtue of the market economy and the acceptability of

economic inequality and poverty

• The importance of domestic processes and participation
• The relationship between human civilization and nature

Market Focused Ideologies

Slide 5

• Market focused ideologies stress the importance of

free market.

• They advise against state intrusion and control

A pioneering articulation of this view emanated from the French term ͞Laissez-faire.͟ Laissez-faire literally means ͞leaǀe theŵ to do.͟ Laissez-faire was first used in the 18th Century as a sanction against government interference with trade.

• In laissez-faire viewpoint, the state’s role is eŶsure that

nothing interferes with the working of the market.

Libertarianism

Slide 6

• The laissez-faire doctrine is referred to as libertarianism.
• Libertarianism advocates a free market view. It argues

that capitalism will be a panacea to inefficiencies than government intervention

• Adam Smith, one of the fathers of economics identifies

with libertarianism. Smith argues that the ͞iŶǀisiďle haŶd͟

• f the market will guide people act in their self-interest.
• The self-interest behaviour produces spontaneous social
• rder that secures the public interest.

LiďertariaŶisŵ ;ĐoŶt’d฀:

Slide 7

• Smith argues that the uninterrupted market is the

generator of wealth obstructed only by government intervention.

• However, Smith conceded that not all areas can be

entirely left to the market.

• Areas like national security, individual security, and

public works cannot be efficiently provided by the market

• Libertarians trust in individual responsibility.
• They believe the state should only intervene to protect

citizens from coercion, interference and discrimination.

LiďertariaŶisŵ ;ĐoŶt’d฀:

Slide 8

• Libertarians insist on the state providing only negative
• rights. Negative rights refer to the system of justice and

associated law, order and protective services such as the police, courts, prisons, probation and rehabilitation services.

• There is thus minimal need for public finance.
• Libertarians argue that there is no such thing as social

justice.

• A persoŶ’s life ĐhaŶĐes are as a result of ŵarket
• utcomes.

LiďertariaŶisŵ ;ĐoŶt’d฀:

Slide 9

• These outcomes may be fortunate for some and

unfortunate for others but they are not unfair.

• TheLJ siŵplLJ refleĐt aŶ iŶdiǀidual’s iŶŶate aďilities to

earn a livelihood through flair, initiative and hard work.

• Charitable work rather than state action should be

relied upon to help those who are unfortunate in lacking innate abilities for self support. To libertarians:

• There is no moral case for equality
• There is no such thing as society

LiďertariaŶisŵ ;ĐoŶt’d฀:

Slide 10

• There is no need for modern welfare state
• There is no need for public finance and public policy

(other than law and order, defense and to relieve destitution) Rather the private sector should provide individuals and their households with services they are willing and able to pay for. Libertarians contend that state intervention is counter-productive. It stifles individual initiative and destroy charitable giving.

LiďertariaŶisŵ ;ĐoŶt’d฀:

Slide 11

State intervention establishes a dependency culture. Dependency is worsened by moral hazards whereby individuals change their behaviour as a result of:

• being insured.
• being less cautious vin their attitudes and response to

risk Libertarians insist that governments cannot be trusted to act responsibly. They claim that the state is corruptible They believe governments operate for their own sake rather those they are meant to serve.

Neo-Liberalism

Slide 12

The resurgence of laissez-faire economics was variously termed as:

• Neo-classical economics
• Neo-liberalism
• Neo-conservatism
• The New Right
• Economic rationalism

Neo-liberalism is an offshoot of libertarianism. Its focus is on individual rights and freedom.

Neo-Liďeralisŵ ;ĐoŶt’d฀:

Slide 13

Neo-liberals contended that by the end of the twentieth century there was too much government This was evident in several important respects:

• Governments were taxing too much, thereby penalizing

those generating wealth.

• Government were borrowing too much, thereby reducing

the amount of capital available.

• Governments were spending too much, e.g. on social

services.

• Governments were regulating too much – investment

fell.

Neo-Liďeralisŵ ;ĐoŶt’d฀:

Slide 14

• Governments were doing too much, although

private enterprise was believed to be more efficient

• Governments were providing too much protection:

Tariffs and other regulations were making the market less efficient. Some business sectors were less competitive.

Neo-Liberal Solution to Big Government

Slide 15

• Lowering taxes, flattening the tax structure and

taxing consumption rather than income

• Budgets surpluses should be used to retire debt

rather than spending on public services and infrastructure

• Reducing government expenditure, particularly
• n

welfare and social services

• Reducing legislative safeguards in areas such as

health and environmental standards

Neo-Liďeral’s SolutioŶ to Big GoǀerŶŵeŶt ;ĐoŶt’d฀:

Slide 16

• Selling of government business enterprises to

private owners.

• Reducing or eliminating tariffs and other trade

barriers

• Abolishing centralized wage fixing
• Deregulating markets to allow competition to

determine prices.

Defining Features of Neo-Liberalism

Slide 17

• Primacy of the individual
• Modified markets
• Negative plus limited positive rights
• Enabling state
• Mixed economy

Beliefs of Neo-Liberalism

Slide 18

• The state is a necessary evil
• T

axation for efficiency

• Promotion of human capital
• Equality of opportunity
• Property rights reflect policy aims

General Implications of Neo-Liberalism

Slide 19

• Weak conception of society
• Modified market rights
• Individuals primarily consumers
• State supplements charity or voluntary action

Implication of Neo-Liberalism for the Public Sector

Slide 20

• Heavily constrained state
• Some limited positive rights
• Private or public sector provision
• Conditional welfare state
• Public plus private insurance

Implications of Neo-Liberalism for Public Policy

Slide 21

• Restricted public finance
• Seek additional public spending
• Tadž ͞bads͟ Ŷot ͞goods͟ for effiĐieŶĐLJ
• Introduction of proportional taxes
• Borrowing for efficiency purposes

Limitations of Neo-Liberalism

Slide 22

• IŶdiǀidual’s rights to state assistaŶĐe is ĐoŶtiŶgeŶt upoŶ

responsibilities for self sufficiency

• The state is not a definite recourse in terms of need
• Equality of outcomes will not be achieved
• People’s iŶŶate aďilities, flair aŶd ǁork effort ǀarLJ
• Neo-liďerals’ ĐoŶĐeptioŶ of soĐietLJ is Ŷot

eŶĐoŵpassiŶg

• It is unclear whether state intervention makes markets

work better or worse

• Neo-liberalism produced weakness in both culture and

civil society

Socialism (Collectivism)

Slide 23

• Socialism preached a contrasting view to liberalism. It

advocates a state controlled by the people.

• It was occasioned in the nineteenth century by

inequality.

• The exploitative nature of capitalism.
• Invocation of a revolutionary transformation of the state
• Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels were the architects of

socialism.

• The mode of production influences power relations.

SoĐialisŵ ;ColleĐtiǀisŵ฀ ;ĐoŶt’d฀:

Slide 24

• Socialists argue that capitalism is unjust because the

means of production is owned by a few elites.

• These elites exploited the working masses.
• The masses sold their labour but had no control
• ver

the distriďutioŶ of soĐietLJ’s resourĐes aŶd benefits.

• Marxists believed that the exploitation of labour

would provide the motivation for a revolution to

• verthrow capital.
• Ownership of the means of production influences

the distribution of power and resources.

SoĐialisŵ ;ColleĐtiǀisŵ฀ ;ĐoŶt’d฀:

Slide 25

• Socialists predicted the revolution to eliminate class and

private property.

• Class and property would be replaced by a social and

economic system controlled by the people.

• The revolution has not occurred and classes still exist.

Owners of capital are still few.

• However, issues about equity and equality have become

salient.

• Labour power is boosted by unionization and threats of

industrial action.

• People have full not limited positive rights as citizens.

These are in addition to negative rights as consumers.

SoĐialisŵ ;ColleĐtiǀisŵ฀ ;ĐoŶt’d฀:

Slide 26

• Only the omniscient and benevolent state can provide

for such extensive social and economic rights.

• Thus markets have to be directly controlled by the

state.

• State control is intended to ensure equality of
• utcomes.
• Private property rights are replaced by social
• wnership.
• Private profits must be at the expense of social welfare.
• The state cannot be a passive onlooker while markets

allocate resources by chance.

• Equality of opportunity cannot secure socially

acceptable outcomes.

Socialism ;ColleĐtiǀisŵ฀ ;ĐoŶt’d):

Slide 27

• Those outcomes cannot be assured by the enabling

state of neo-liberalism.

• The state rather should be a provider state.
• The attendant collective benefits more offset the

associated moral hazards and dependency culture.

• Public policy is uncontrolled as is public finance.
• The state planning is more effective than modified or

unfettered markets

• Thus social rather than economic welfare is the

approach to public policy

• Public policy is geared in favor of disadvantaged and

low income groups.

Defining Features of Socialism

Slide 28

• There is mutual dependence
• There is rejection of markets
• Full positive rights exist
• The state is a provider state
• Collectivism rather than individualism is emphasized

Beliefs of Socialism:

Slide 29

• The state is a benevolent state.
• T

axes are raised to meet social objectives.

• There is building of social capital.
• Equality of outcomes are emphasized.
• Property owning is theft.

General Implications of Socialism

Slide 30

• Society is emphasized.
• State confers rights.
• Citizens come first before anything else.
• The state replaces charity.

Implications of Socialism for Public Policy

Slide 31

• The state is expansive.
• There exist positive rights.
• There is public sector provision.
• Welfare is unconditional.
• There is public insurance.
• There is unrestrained public finance.
• Public spending replaces private spending.
• Redistributive taxes is instituted to achieve equity.
• The tax structure is progressive.
• Borrowing is for financing welfare.

Social Democracy

Slide 32

• Social democracy grew out of the socialist

movement.

• Social democrats believe capitalism can reformed

rather than overthrown. The overthrow can be done democratically through change.

• The change will occur through state regulation and

addressing inequality.

• Social democrats insist on the state expanding its role

iŶ the eĐoŶoŵLJ. The state’s role ĐaŶ ďe edžpaŶded through regulation and redistribution of wealth.

SoĐial DeŵoĐraĐLJ ;ĐoŶt’d฀:

Slide 33

• Social democrats neither accept a purely market
• riented economy or a centralized one. Rather, they

advocate a mixed economy.

• The mixed economy has private enterprise

complemented by public enterprise

• Provision of social services and redistribution of

wealth is emphasized.

• The Social democratic state is exemplified by Sweden.

This is because the country has a mixture of high taxes and extensive social welfare system.

SoĐial DeŵoĐraĐLJ ;ĐoŶt’d฀:

Slide 34

• The NDC in Ghana considers itself as a social

democratic party. The NDC especially under President Mahama had a mixture of high taxes and provision of social infrastructure. Social interventions of the NDC included FCUBE, LEAP, School Feeding Program, Free School Sandals Program.

• John Maynard Keynes is the most influential thinker in

the state focused school. He called for an interventionist state to stimulate the economy in periods of unemployment. The view was that a given level of demand would produce a corresponding level

• f employment.

SoĐial DeŵoĐraĐLJ ;ĐoŶt’d฀:

Slide 35

• Keynes, however, pointed out that low unemployment

during the depression resulted from low demand.

• Aggregate demand in an economy is the sum of

consumer spending, private investment and government spending.

• Keynes contended governments could deal with

recessions by increasing demand. According to Keynes, recession can be addressed by reducing taxes to spur consumer or investment spending and increasing governments’ oǁŶ spending.

SoĐial DeŵoĐraĐLJ ;ĐoŶt’d฀:

Slide 36

• Application of Keynesian prescriptions dealt with the

recessions and resuscitated ailing economies. Keynesian fiscal policy was successfully put to test during J.F. Kennedy administration in the US in 1961.

• Keynes radical ideas influenced modern economic and

political thought. Governments began to increase

• taxation. Governments also introduced a variety of social
• programs. These programs aimed at addressing

inequalities

• The high point on Keynes views is the transformation in
• ur understanding of welfare and redistribution. An

interventionist state provides benefits for all. Intervention creates wealth and welfare is improved.

SoĐial DeŵoĐraĐLJ ;ĐoŶt’d฀:

Slide 37

• Laissez-faire policy existed prior to the great

Depression.

• Laissez-faire economists believed that an economy

would automatically correct its imbalances. The correction brings about equilibrium in the economy.

• Demand and supply forces make the economy adjust to

inflation without government intervention.

• Laissez-faire economists see lay-offs , bankruptcies and

down turns as things not be avoided.

• They are part of the natural process of adjustment. The

adjustments will restore equilibrium in the economy.

SoĐial DeŵoĐraĐLJ ;ĐoŶt’d฀:

Slide 38

• Government action was less likely to alleviate suffering.

It cannot revive economic activity. Rather, it will disrupt the natural restorative powers of the market system.

• These prediction did not come to pass since the Great

Depression wretched havoc in industrial economies.

• Aggregate spending was very low.
• Unemployment increased sharply.
• These problems provoked a rethink of the role of the

state in the economy.

SoĐial DeŵoĐraĐLJ ;ĐoŶt’d฀:

Slide 39

• Keynesianism is at odds with capitalism with two

contrasting ideas were cobbled together-welfare state measures like health for a healthy workforce and measures concerned with the redistribution

• f income.
• This cobbling of opposing ideas posed a risk to
• capitalism. It was also dangerous to free markets
• However, the forces of capitalism have won the

battle while the welfare state has fallen into disfavour today.