What is policy analysis?

Policy analysis is, in a sense, the investigation of policy in order to guide future decision-making while considering the ground reality. The five-stage model of the policy process includes: (1) agenda-setting; (2) policy formulation; (3) decision-making; (4) policy implementation; and (5) policy evaluation. Policy analysis occurs in the policy formulation stage and is regarded as being situated at the ‘P’ (plan) stage of the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Action) cycle.

In other words, policy analysis is the intellectual investigation by policymakers working at the stage of policy formulation. It is not limited to scientific or academic analysis. Coordination among stakeholders, the most unscientific and political activity at first glance, is based on the analysis of political situations. Coordination without analysis of politics will result in failure. Policy analysis involves information activities such as human intelligence (HUMINT).

Policy analysis by local governments in Japan after the Second World War

The centralised intergovernmental system and local governments without policy analysis

Local policy analysis is significantly influenced by the local government policy process. It occurs at the policy formulation stage, leading to the decision-making stage. Under the centralised intergovernmental system, local governments are generally not in charge of decision-making. Therefore, they need not conduct policy analysis.

In centralised post-war Japan, the national government is responsible for decision-making. The local governments are primarily responsible for policy implementation. Agenda-setting and policy formulation, which occur prior to decision-making, are carried out largely by officials of the ministries and agencies of the national government. These ministries and agencies of the national government often refer to themselves as ‘policy offices’. They research, plan and formulate policies. Policy study is important for the officials in ‘policy offices’ because it is a distinctive activity of national policy bureaucrats. Agenda-setting is naturally affected by outside influences and is subject to inputs, including demands from politicians and interest groups, the tone of mass media and public opinion, policy trends in other countries, and discourses in research and academia.

While decision-making is primarily prepared by officials, the final decisions go through an approval process by government parties, the cabinet and the Diet, implicitly or explicitly According to the principle of collegiality of the cabinet, ministers must reach consensus for the decision to be approved.