Nine Councils, policy analysis and policy evaluation
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Kiyoshi Yamaya
Abstract
As policy studies becomes more advanced in Japan, the role of governmental councils (Shingi-kai) in the policy process is attracting a degree of scrutiny. The nature of council members’ work is diverse, but most members are not conversant with policy analysis and policy evaluation. The only role they can actually play would be to check and confirm the data and performance indicators presented by government bureaucrats. It would be impossible for them to check the validity, reliability, accuracy, and usefulness of the social sciences’ tools used in policy analysis and policy evaluation. And it also would be difficult for them to confirm the validity, reliability, accuracy of analysis and evaluation, i.e. the real mission expected of policy analysis and policy evaluation. In Japan, the role of councils have been to ratify and justify the results of policy analysis and policy evaluation, carried out by government bureaucrats or thinktanks commissioned by government ministries.
Abstract
As policy studies becomes more advanced in Japan, the role of governmental councils (Shingi-kai) in the policy process is attracting a degree of scrutiny. The nature of council members’ work is diverse, but most members are not conversant with policy analysis and policy evaluation. The only role they can actually play would be to check and confirm the data and performance indicators presented by government bureaucrats. It would be impossible for them to check the validity, reliability, accuracy, and usefulness of the social sciences’ tools used in policy analysis and policy evaluation. And it also would be difficult for them to confirm the validity, reliability, accuracy of analysis and evaluation, i.e. the real mission expected of policy analysis and policy evaluation. In Japan, the role of councils have been to ratify and justify the results of policy analysis and policy evaluation, carried out by government bureaucrats or thinktanks commissioned by government ministries.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- List of figures and tables vii
- Notes on contributors ix
- Editors’ introduction to the series xi
- Policy analysis in Japan: the state of the art 1
-
Styles and Methods of Policy Analysis in Japan
- Historical background of policy analysis in Japan 15
- Beyond a formal approach? Seeking adequate policy analysis in Japan 27
- Policy research movements in local governments 41
- Policy analysis and normative theory: with a focus on social security policies 57
- Law and public policy in contemporary Japan 73
-
Policy Analysis in Japanese Governments
- Policy analysis and the policy process in Japanese government 91
- In-house think tanks of ministries: their functions and limitations in policy formulation 103
- A policy analysis of the Japanese Diet from the perspective of ‘Legislative Supporting Agencies’ 123
- Councils, policy analysis and policy evaluation 139
- Local governments and policy analysis in Japan after the Second World War 149
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Parties, Interest Groups and Advocacy-Based Policy Analysis
- Policy analysis and policymaking by Japanese political parties 165
- Business associations and labour unions 185
- Current state of non-profit organizations and the ‘New Public Commons’ 199
- Think tanks and policy analysis: meeting the challenges of think tanks in Japan 215
- Policy analysis in the mass media 235
-
Future Directions of Policy Analysis in Japan
- Policy education in Japan: a study of professional graduate public policy schools 251
- Job market for public policy programme graduates in Japan 271
- Conclusion: future directions of the theory and practice of public policy analysis in Japan 289
- Index 303
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- List of figures and tables vii
- Notes on contributors ix
- Editors’ introduction to the series xi
- Policy analysis in Japan: the state of the art 1
-
Styles and Methods of Policy Analysis in Japan
- Historical background of policy analysis in Japan 15
- Beyond a formal approach? Seeking adequate policy analysis in Japan 27
- Policy research movements in local governments 41
- Policy analysis and normative theory: with a focus on social security policies 57
- Law and public policy in contemporary Japan 73
-
Policy Analysis in Japanese Governments
- Policy analysis and the policy process in Japanese government 91
- In-house think tanks of ministries: their functions and limitations in policy formulation 103
- A policy analysis of the Japanese Diet from the perspective of ‘Legislative Supporting Agencies’ 123
- Councils, policy analysis and policy evaluation 139
- Local governments and policy analysis in Japan after the Second World War 149
-
Parties, Interest Groups and Advocacy-Based Policy Analysis
- Policy analysis and policymaking by Japanese political parties 165
- Business associations and labour unions 185
- Current state of non-profit organizations and the ‘New Public Commons’ 199
- Think tanks and policy analysis: meeting the challenges of think tanks in Japan 215
- Policy analysis in the mass media 235
-
Future Directions of Policy Analysis in Japan
- Policy education in Japan: a study of professional graduate public policy schools 251
- Job market for public policy programme graduates in Japan 271
- Conclusion: future directions of the theory and practice of public policy analysis in Japan 289
- Index 303
