Comparing Public Policy: An Overview

Before undertaking comparative policy analysis, one must first be clear of the justification for the inordinately large amount of work required. A variety of reasons are reviewed. In order to make comparisons, one must have a conceptual framework to identify the different parts of the policy process. Data must be placed in a process, as well as located in geographical space. It is also important to consider to what extent differences between policy areas (defence, health care, housing, economic policy, etc) influence the policy process. The issues discussed concern problems that arise in within-nation studies of policy, as well as between-nation comparisons.