Module 1
Introduction to Public Policy
Forecasting future trends is often challenging, but one reality is unavoidable: healthcare costs are expected to soar in the coming decades. This increase is driven by the aging baby boomer generation, which will demand a growing array of expensive medical services.
Over the past few decades, healthcare spending, for example in the United States, has seen significant fluctuations. From 2008 to 2013, annual growth rates in healthcare costs remained below 4%, the lowest in over fifty years, offering a brief respite from the relentless upward trend. However, by 2014, spending began to rise again, increasing to 5.3% and continuing to 5.8% in 2015. By the end of 2015, total healthcare spending had reached a staggering $3.2 trillion—almost 18% of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)—equivalent to $9,900 per person. Projections suggest that by 2025, per capita spending will escalate to $16,032, with total healthcare costs reaching $5.6 trillion, nearly 20.1% of GDP.
This rise in healthcare spending highlights the long-term impact of policy decisions, such as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010, commonly known as Obamacare. The ACA aimed to expand healthcare coverage and slow spending growth. While the act has had some impact, the challenges of ballooning costs, legal opposition, and shifting political priorities under different administrations remain significant. These trends raise urgent questions for policymakers:
- How can we manage skyrocketing healthcare costs while maintaining quality and accessibility?
- What strategies can ensure the solvency of critical programs like Medicare and Social Security amidst increasing demands?
- How will these policies affect future generations, particularly those in their teens and twenties today?
Public policy decisions on issues like healthcare reform and Social Security impact nearly every aspect of daily life, yet they often go unrecognized by the public. For example, while Social Security reform may seem irrelevant to young people today, it will inevitably shape their quality of life in the decades ahead.
The Advanced Diploma in Public Policy equips students with the tools to understand and evaluate such complex issues. This course encourages critical thinking about the choices governments make and the far-reaching effects of these decisions. By fostering political awareness and engagement, the course empowers students to contribute meaningfully to the policymaking process.
Through this program, participants will develop the skills to analyze, critique, and propose solutions to pressing public policy challenges. By doing so, they can play an active role in shaping policies that address societal needs and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.
What is in this module?
Introduction to Public Policy
Duration: 10 hours
Units to explore:
- Definition and Scope of Public Policy
- Historical Perspectives on Public Policy
- Public vs. Private Policy Approaches
- The Role of Governments, NGOs, and International Bodies in Policy Development
- Types of Public Policy (Social, Economic, Environmental, etc.)
- Key Theories and Models of Public Policy
Case Studies: Policy Development in Various Nations
Assessment: Short essay on types of public policy and their impacts.