People suggest policy changes for a wide range of issues, but economic reform is the one they bring up most often. In some countries, such as India and South Africa, this is because there is a perception that the existing policies aren’t working. In other cases, there’s a sense that the economy is growing so fast that it requires new policies to cope with rapid change.
It may be important to address unofficial policies, such as the “glass ceiling” for women or minorities that prevents them from getting far into management in a company or government bureaucracy. Such unofficial policies may need to be exposed and changed before official policy change can take place.
Some research suggests that political institutions, or the rules and processes that govern policy formation, are a major factor in policy change. These factors include the ways in which policies are created and distributed, how they are framed, and how power is allocated among policy actors. Various theories have been developed to explain these variables, including the three Is: institutions (processes, context); interests (actors, power); and ideas (content, evidence, values).
Another factor in policy change is the availability of credible, knowledgeable leaders to spearhead the effort. Community-based organizations and health and human service groups can be good places to start, since they often have high credibility in the community, as well as technical knowledge about the issue – statistics, study results, understanding of root causes. They also have a pulse on the community’s attitudes and can provide a realistic perspective on the potential impact of policy changes.
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