Category: assignments

assignments

Collective action in Canadian Public Policy through an evolutionary theory lens

Post author By Dr. Raul Pacheco-Vega
Post date February 8, 2011
6 Comments on Collective action in Canadian Public Policy through an evolutionary theory lens

As indicated in today’s class, here is the text of the assignment for before class on Thursday, February 10th, 2011.

Individually
Pick a Canadian policy issue where you see the need for self-organization (examples):

Water management in the Fraser river basin
Policing and surveillance on buses in Metro Vancouver
Provision of health services for low-income folks

…. (your choice)

What kind of basic rules and norms would you try to enforce, and who would be both the target population and the responsible parties for enforcement? (according to evolutionary theory)

Post your reflections on this POLI 350A blog post (email me your pseudonym) before the beginning of next class.

assignments

Should municipalities provide free counselling as a policy tool to address homelessness? (In-class Exercise)

Post author By Dr. Raul Pacheco-Vega
Post date January 28, 2011
No Comments on Should municipalities provide free counselling as a policy tool to address homelessness? (In-class Exercise)

Homelessness is a complex public policy problem that encompasses a broad variety of elements. This past week I asked you to use Schneider and Ingram (1993) social constructions of target populations framework to evaluate the case study I posted on Vista for an in-class assignment – would providing free counselling sessions to homeless folks work as a policy tool (realistically speaking). How is homelessness socially constructed and how does this social construction affect policy choices? I asked you to email me your responses, and I will be doing a summary. But in the mean time, feel free to keep the discussion going on this blog entry.