Public policy is said to be a pragmatic application of the art and science of politics. I consider public policy and policy analysis to be more of a science than an art. As a science, public policy is concerned with administrative or management methodologies used to implement a given policy. It also involves implementing budgetary methods to increase the efficiency of a certain policy, when put in place.
The public policy applies qualitative and quantitative methods, such as case studies, statistical analysis, and survey research; to identify problems, evaluate alternatives, and decide the appropriate policy to be implemented. It holds methodological naturalism, that is, adherence to empirical study and distinct identification to provide and evaluate natural implications for observable occurrences. Through science, a certain phenomenon can be predicted with some certainty and so is the occurrence of political phenomena.
Public policy experts use a scientific approach to derive testable hypotheses based on empirical verification. The field lays emphasis on relevance and the use of methods to increase scientific knowledge and provide answers for empirical results. The public policy brings in elements of other social sciences and concepts, such as economics, sociology, policy analysis, and public management. Public policy can be distinguished from other human sciences like economics and political science; it focuses on the practical application of theory. Public policy is a continuing exercise to ascertain and accumulate more scientific knowledge and understand using research-based facts.
Nevertheless, public policy can also be expressed as art. It has some characteristics that are also exemplified in art. Public policy focuses on various human activities, expressions, opinions, and values. As an art public policy involves persuading key publics or institutions or groups of people to come to a consensus on a suggested policy based on mostly human feelings or cultural issues. The public policy indicates a judgment of trained potential perfection of a medium. Public policy is a way of expressing ideas, thoughts, and feelings of people so are art. Art is used to showing people’s judgments of values that face criticism, so is a public policy where decisions taken can be attractive or repulsive to the citizens.
Public policy is a way of communication between the decision-makers and the subjects, also art is meant to appeal to and link with people’s emotions. An example of a public policy issue is economic policy. Economic policy refers to measures taken by institutions to coordinate their economic sector and ensure their operations are run efficiently. It includes government budget, adjusting interest rates, implementing fiscal policy and monetary policies. Economic policy as a discipline can be assumed to be either a science or an art.
The economic policy has predetermined methodological tools that are used to test the performance of the economy at any given period. It also has structural procedures that must be adhered to in identifying problems, evaluating possible alternatives, and implementing the decisions taken. The study of economic policy considers certain economic variables such as interest rates are determined empirically and the consequences in the market can be expressed qualitatively.
Economic policy as an art can be shown in various ways. Economic policy is used as a tool of communication between the government and its citizens. It shows people’s emotions, ideas, thoughts concerning the economy of the country. Economic policy taken in a country shows the value of the people and their attitude towards their economical status. In most cases, the economic policy is persuasive and tries to appeal to the people, although the people can criticize the policy.