A New Classification of Public Policies in the American States

47 Pages Posted: 1 Aug 2011 Last revised: 7 Sep 2011

See all articles by Saundra K. Schneider

Saundra K. Schneider

Michigan State University

William G. Jacoby

Michigan State University

Date Written: 2011

Abstract

In this paper we produce a classification of public policies which relies directly on the actual patterns of policymaking that occur across a range of substantive program areas. We use expenditure data from 1982 through 2005 from the American states to create a dichotomous breakdown of policy areas. Unlike most previous efforts, our resultant classification scheme is empirically-grounded, and it differentiates clearly between two sets of policies: Those that provide collective goods fairly broadly across a state’s entire population and those that distribute benefits to particular groups within a state. Our dichotomous system conforms to the ways that states actually allocate resources across substantive policy areas, and it compares quite favorably to other categorizations of public policies. But, it also illuminates important differences between policies than have not been clearly identified in the classifications found in previous research. Therefore, we believe our measure provides a valid and reliable empirical representation of the variability that exists in state policy priorities which can used in broader models of the political system.

Keywords: theories of public policy, state policy priorities, policy classifications

Suggested Citation

Schneider, Saundra K. and Jacoby, William G., A New Classification of Public Policies in the American States (2011). APSA 2011 Annual Meeting Paper, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1901008

Saundra K. Schneider (Contact Author)

Michigan State University ( email )

Agriculture Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824-1122
United States

William G. Jacoby

Michigan State University ( email )

Agriculture Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824-1122
United States

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