Assessment of the Role of Public Policy in Eradicating Poverty - Essay Example

? Assessment of the role of public policy in eradicating poverty Table of Contents Introduction 3 1 Research Questions 3 1.2 Objectives of the Study 4 1.3 Conceptual Framework 5 2 Literature review 5 2.1 Creation of Labour Institutions 6 2.2 Legislation of Social Policies 7 2.3 Addressing Illiteracy 7 2.4 Environmental Degradation 8 2.5 Agricultural Support 8 2.6 Economic Policies 9 2.7 Accountability and Transparency 9 2.8 Participation of Nongovernmental Organisations 10 3 Methodology 11 3.1 Research Design 11 3.2 Sampling Method And Size 11 3.3 Sample Size 11 3.4 Data Collection Instruments 12 3.5 Validity and Reliability 12 3.6 Data Analysis 13 3.7 Ethical Considerations 13 3.8 List of Activities 13 Bibliography: 15 1 Introduction Public policy has been put in place by governments to enact legislations that help in addressing public issues. One of the issues addressed by public policy is poverty. The issue of poverty has been contentious in many parts of the world. In essence, public policy has played a key part in addressing the issue of poverty (Lee 2006). Assessment of governments’ use of public policy in addressing the issue of poverty is a concern that needs to be articulated upon comprehensively since poverty has been widely known to carry luggage of other economic and social dev elopements. For example, studies have documented that if the issue of poverty can be solved, several other issues such as GDP can be partially be solved. In another dimension, study of how public policy can be used in eradicating poverty can be argued to possess great impact on identifying and raising issues that can help governments in making necessary measures that can help solve not only poverty issue but also other problems affecting the public (Chaturvedy 2005). In addition, in the process of investigating the phenomena at hand, it is apparent that different frameworks of how different governments have used in utilisation of public policy in addressing public issues will be highlighted. This way, there will be a broader spectrum of how identified frameworks by successful governments can be applied by unsuccessful governments. In essence, the concern of the study will also try to interpret the differences that are recorded in different approaches of public policies in addressing public issues. 1.1 Research Questions Can public policy be used to solve the issue of poverty? In what ways can public policy be used to solve the issue of poverty? What are effects of failure to use public policy in solving the issue of poverty? 1.2 Objectives of the Study General objective To investigate if public policy can be used to solve the issue of poverty Specific objectives To assess ways in which public policy can be used to solve the issue of poverty To find out the effects of failure to use public policy to solve the issue of poverty 1.3 Conceptual Framework Independent variables Independent variable 2 Literature review Application of public policy in addressing public problems One of the apparent functions of public policy is the creation of legislations of social policies. In fact, as Lee 2006 asserted, the initial step in solving poverty issue is by putting social legislations in place. In this regard, the issue of public policy comes in. Nevertheless, focus on how an issue like poverty can be solved needs a clear articulation of several things. Basically, a government needs to conduct some research and evaluate the necessary steps to be taken in order to solve the problem. The below sections highlight some areas that governments can put public policy into action in order to curb the menace of poverty. 2.1 Creation of Labour Institutions One of the challenges of eradicating poverty is the issue of unemployment and poor employment conditions. Studies have indicated that countries with high unemployment rates experiences lower economic growth and are reported to have a higher level of poverty than counties with higher employment rates (Chaturvedy 2005). Poverty can be defined under different perspectives. Firstly, for any country to claim to have reduced or eradicated poverty, its citizens should be able to afford or meet the requirements of daily basic needs. Nevertheless, the government should have put in place mechanisms that help its citizens to cater for their daily basic needs. One of these mechanisms is for the government to offer employment opportunities to its citizens. This way, people can be able to earn a living from their jobs. In this regard, having a public policy that help in designing and creating labour institutions would highly help in solving the issue of unemployment (Chaturvedy 2005). Labour institutions should be used to identify ways through which governments can use its mechanisms to create jobs for its citizens. In most cases, these institutions play a role win identifying areas through which the go government can create job opportunities. For example, these institutions can identify key community development projects that can be used by communities in both creating jobs for the community and generating income for the community. In another dimension, these projects can used to offer social support to the community. This can be in terms of offering some social amenities to the community. Labour institutions have also been used to act as voices of the employees. All over the world, private sector has been known for its employee’s oppression. In most cases, this is seen in terms of failure by employers to adequately remunerate their employees, something that leads to poor living standards of the employees. 2.2 Legislation of Social Policies Lee 2006 stipulated that governments can legislate on social policies that can help to solve the issue of poverty. For example, if the government can enact legislation that stipulates on the provision of health services for free, it is apparent its citizens can have good health since they can access services for free. Basically, this can be analysed as one way of reducing poverty since health is a factor that contribute to poverty. Thus is highly attributed to the fact that many people are unable to pay for health services. When people are unhealthy, they become unproductive. This is arguably true because they cannot be in a position to carry out any task when unhealthy thus increasing the level of poverty. 2.3 Addressing Illiteracy Studies have documented that many counties that have been able to develop have had a strategy of endorsing education for their citizens. Education has always acted as a drive for economic and technological developments. Public policy can be used to have mechanisms of facilitating education through various ways. In essence, this can be articulated through offering incentives that encourage and support education (Lee 2006). For example, some countries that have developed have made primary education compulsory and free. This way, many children are able to attend school and without difficulties. In another dimension, various supportive programs can be put in place in order to support nurturing of different talents exhibited by various students’ right from early childhood. Institutions of higher learning and universities are believed to play a key role in bringing out key technological developments in the world. Therefore, governments should be motivated in supporting these institutions in order to bring about various developments in the country (Fox, Bayat and Ferreira 2006). 2.4 Environmental Degradation It is apparent that the issue of the environment has been contentious for a long time. This is because environment plays a key role in determining the kind of life that people live. This is arguably true because for example, when the environment of destroyed or depreciated, the potentiality of the land to produce high yields of food stuffs becomes low. Studies have showed that due to global warming, climatic changes have been reported. This has a great disadvantage on determining the existence of plants and animals. 2.5 Agricultural Support Agriculture is very important aspect of development and poverty reduction. In fact, individuals that are able to have adequate food production overcome the issue of poverty in various ways. People who participate in agriculture are able to have adequate foods for their own consumption and can engage in trading their agricultural products (Fox, Bayat and Ferreira 2006). This way, they are able to cater for their basic needs and generate some additional income from the same. In this regard, legislations to support the agricultural sector can highly help reduce the issue of poverty in big margins (Lee 2006). Governments can decide to introduce incentives such as subsidizing farm inputs in order to help farmers to farm without difficulties. There could also be mechanisms through which the government can look for ways to help farmers sell their farm products. Supportive services such as government agricultural officers can be used to advise farmers of the best farming practices. This way, farmers can be sure of having quality and enough outputs. 2.6 Economic Policies It is apparent that one of the problems in many countries that have higher level of poverty is because of lack of good economic policies that support economic development. In essence, government can put in place mechanisms through which people can be encouraged to participate in various economic activities (Chaturvedy 2005). For example, over taxation has always been a problem to investors that want to venture into various businesses. Therefore, if a government can enact legislations that entice and encourage business persons to transact businesses without such barriers, they can feel secure to even venture into new businesses. Some countries have not been able to utilise locally available resources and products due to poor economic policies. For example, some countries over rely on importing cheap products, which are even available locally. This denies its citizens to earn or make some income from their own products. When this happens, people become discouraged to use their own products. This leads to low production of local products, thus contributing to high prices of imported products. Therefore, a government can put in place policies that can help in regulating various economic activities that would encourage productivity and businesses in the country (Lee 2006). 2.7 Accountability and Transparency Many developing countries, which experience highest level of poverty has been overburdened by lack of accountability and transparency. This is arguably true because as Chaturvedy 2005 argued, when impunity is manifested through corruption and embezzlement of public funds, the fight against poverty becomes difficult. For example, a government officer employed in the ministry of healthcare may indulge in corruption deals that lead to poor health provision services. When this happens, people are not able to access health services thus becoming unproductive. It is therefore critical to have public policy concept brought in order to put mechanisms of dealing with corruption and accountability issues (Lee 2006). In another dimension, political intrigues have been cited to play a major role in issues of accountability (Boston, Bradstock and Eng 2010). Many politicians give false promises just as a way of winning votes for them to get into power. However, they use their powers to oppress the poor by indulging in several impunity issues. But, since the poor needs basic needs to survive, they are bribed in order to vote in the politician regardless of their eligibility to deliver their promised to electors. In this regard, public policy can be used to come up with institutions that can be used to oversee that government and other civil officers are held accountable of their deeds (Boston, Bradstock and Eng 2010). 2.8 Participation of Nongovernmental Organisations It is apparent that nongovernmental organisations have helped many countries in bringing up both economic and social dev elopement. They are widely known to bring social and democratic changes in many parts of the world. Therefore, a government can use public policy in encouraging NGOs to participate in various matters affecting the public. Nevertheless, there should be a policy that protects such organisations since many governments have been cited to sabotage the works of NGOs (Fox, Bayat and Ferreira 2006). 3 Methodology 3.1 Research Design The current study will be conducted using cross-sectional survey design. The design will be used in collecting data from a sample of participants who will be sampled to represent public policy officers and members of the public. This study design will aim at investigating issue at hand by utilising questionnaires and interviews. This design is considered ideal because it does not deal with a single case, but rather various cases sampled from a targeted population (Bryman and Bell 2003). In addition, this design is preferred for this study because it articulates on gathering facts and/or figures as opposed to other designs that manipulates variables. The design is also considered ideal because it allows an in-depth scrutiny of the subject matter under investigation. 3.2 Sampling Method And Size Sampling is the process of identifying and analysing a relatively small number of participant, events or objects in order to investigate an issue affecting the entire population from which the participants are selected (Cozby and Bates 2012). The current research will use stratified random sampling. This will involve identifying persons living in poverty and officers in the public policy department. 3.3 Sample Size The researcher will randomly select a total of 50 members of the public and 10 public policy officers. From each of the sampled group, stratified sampling will be used to have two strata that will represent male and female. 3.4 Data Collection Instruments In order to have a clear understanding of how public policy can be used to address the issue of poverty, the researcher finds it necessary to use first hand information from the selected participants. 3.4.1 Questionnaire The current study will utilise questionnaires as one of the primary instruments of collecting the data. The instrument will be used to collect data from public policy officers. In order to have an in-depth scrutiny of the phenomena at hand, the instrument will be composed of two parts; the first part will contain closed ended questions, which will be used to gather demographic information and other statistical data. The second part will be utilised in seeking opinions from participants and additional qualitative data. 3.4.2 Interviews Interviews will be used to collect data from the members of the public. This tool involves asking questions hopefully to receive answers from the participants in order to draw conclusions on the subject matter under investigation (Cozby and Bates 2012). However, the instrument will consist of structured and semi structured questions. 3.5 Validity and Reliability It is apparent that in every research, it is paramount to consider the reliability of the instruments used in carrying out the study. In the current study, the researcher will estimate the reliability of the instruments to be used by a way of testing and retesting. However, this can only be realised by piloting the instruments intended to be used in the study. In the bid to ascertaining the validity of the instruments, seeking assistance from the supervisor will be considered ideal in order to assess the relevance of the measurements of the instruments to be used. 3.6 Data Analysis In the bid to draw conclusions from the findings of the research, the researcher will edit, code similar themes and eventually classify the data. This is an important process because it aids detection of errors and omissions as well as reducing data into homogenous categories that can be used in extracting meaningful relationships. Descriptive and inferential analysis will be functionalized in order to measure and determine the relationship that exists among the information gathered. SPSS package will be used to provide analysis of correlations between variables. Therefore, the package will be used in analysing data. 3.7 Ethical Considerations In any given research, it is required that the researcher should observe on ethical issues in order to avoid causing physical or psychological harm to participants (Gregory 2003). This can be avoided by evading asking irreverent and embarrassing questions. In addition, the researcher will avoid questions that could be threatening in nature. Confidentiality and anonymity will be assured by the researcher 3.8 List of Activities 2013 2014 2015 2016 Instrument Design Piloting the Instrument Training Research Assistant Field Work Activities Data Processing Data Analysis Report Writing Report submission Bibliography: Boston, J., Bradstock, A. and Eng, D., 2010. Public policy: why ethics matters. Acton, A.C.T.: ANU E Press. Bryman, A. and Bell, E., 2003. Business Research Methods. New York: Oxford University Press. Chaturvedy, J., 2005. Political governance. Delhi: Isha Books. Cozby, P. and Bates, S., 2012. Methods in behavioral research (11thed). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Fox, W., Bayat, M. and Ferreira, W., 2006. A guide to managing public policy. Cape Town: Juta. Gregory, I., 2003. Ethics in research. Continuum International Publishing Group, London. Lee, A., 2006. Community development: current issues and challenges. Dublin: Combat Poverty Agency. Read More