For future years, fix the first critique of R-C – doesn’t really make sense Consider dropping...

For future years, fix the first critique of R-C – doesn’t really make sense

Consider dropping or consolidating theories part. It’s too elaborate and just a legacy of old stuff

October 28, 2014 Sustainable Forest Policy 1

Decision-making: Dilemmas in Policy Design – Case Study of Forest Practices 2

Artist: Holly Friesen

http://www.hollyfriesen.com/

Today’s Agenda

Decision-making theoriesCase: 6% solution

policy design Tools -

instrument choice

Configuration


Readings this week

October 28, 30 – Decision-making: Dilemmas in policy design: choice of instrument, making trade-offs, optimal precision of rules

George Hoberg, “The 6 Percent Solution: The Forest Practices Code, in Cashore et al, In Search of Sustainability, (UBC Press, 2001), pp. 69-75.

Marty Luckert, David Haley, and George Hoberg, Policies for Sustainably Managing Canada’s Forests: Provincial Tenure, Stumpage Fees, and Forest Practices, (Vancouver: UBC Press, 2011), pp. 97-102 CONCEPTS OF POLICY DESIGN AS APPLIED TO FOREST PRACTICES, ACCOMMODATING SPATIAL DIVERSITY

Forest Practices Board, A Decade in Review: Observations on Regulation of Forest and Range Practices in British Columbia

HOW FRPA IS DESIGNEDOctober 28, 2014 Sustainable Forest Policy 4

New Themes

Because of the challenges on conflict resolution, policy is often made without clarifying objectives

Because of limited resources, rational decision-making is usually not feasible

A major challenge for forest policy making is designing policies to accommodate spatial diversity


Policy Cycle Model

6

Agenda-Setting

Policy Formulation

Decisionmaking

Policy Implementation

Monitoring and Evaluation

Decisionmaking

Theories: How policy makers decide

Policy Design: What kind of things they decide about – tools


Theory I: Rational-Comprehensive Model

clarify objectives, prioritize them list all alternatives assess consequences of alternatives compare alternatives choose alternative that

maximizes/optimizes objectives


Rational-Comprehensive Model - Criticisms

Assumes values can be identified and compared pervasive conflict result: policy often made without clarifying

objectives Assumes complete information on

alternatives, consequences criticism:

▪ lack of information, understanding, time/resources result: rational approach impossible or too

costlyOctober 28, 2014 Sustainable Forest Policy 9

Theory II: IncrementalismCharles Lindblom, “The Science of Muddling Through”

no means-ends distinction alternative search limited to those closest

to status quo ignores possible consequences decision rule: “satisfice” test of good policy: agreement successive limited comparisons: trial and

error learning


Incrementalism - critique

policies divisible errors tolerable every interest has

its watchdog


Insights from Incrementalism Helps to explain

government drift, inertia inability to think big difficulty with long term planning vague policies that postpone conflict resolution


Sample exam question

Under Lindblom’s incrementalism framework, the test of a good of a good policyA. Maximizing net benefitsB. Minimizing environmental risksC. OptimizationD. SpecificityE. Getting agreement


D-M Theories: Conclusion

rational model – useful to aspire to, but poor account of real world

Incremental model – shows how governments not so much “stupid” but “constrained”

More feasible when context has: few actors good information stability


Today’s Agenda

decision-making theoriesCase: 6% solution

policy design Tools - instrument

choice policy design

Tools - instrument choice

Configuration


Categories of Forest Policy

1. Allocation of “Crown” timber-- tenure

2. Pricing -- stumpage 3. Rate of harvest – allowable annual

cut (AAC)4. Land Use – zoning for different

values (logging, conservation, etc)5. Regulation of harvesting --

Forest Practices6. Emergent areas and overlaps (

energy, carbon) 16

http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hth/timten/index.htm

http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hva/index.htm

http://ilmbwww.gov.bc.ca/

http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/code/

http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hth/timten/bioenergy/

http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/mof/Climate_Change/


Incrementalism in action: The 6% Solution

Forest Practices Code: NDP government (introduced 1994; in effect

1995) Significant increase in regulation to protect

environmental values Resulted in business alarm about impact on

industry


6% (cont)

How should environment and economic criteria be balanced? rational model: objectives, consequences,

decision▪ optimal balance between environmental and timber

objectives Reality: backward policy-making (Hoberg 2001)

Cabinet directive to limit impact on AAC to 6% no publicly available explanation or rationale

6% (cont)

FPC Timber Supply Analysis (Feb 96)

stated as projection of AAC impacts

remarkable coincidence! Answer: 6%

became policy output, not input

Remains in force today


http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/library/documents/bib29162.pdf

Sustainable Forest Policy 20

Apportioning 6% by value


6% - Policy Strategy towards tradeoffs

when facing harsh tradeoffs, adopt constraints to guide decision making and implementation

advantage: certainty for industry disadvantage: arbitrariness incrementalism, not “rational”

Today’s Agenda

Decision-making theoriesCase: 6% solution

policy design Tools -

instrument choice

Configuration


Policy Design Toolbox

Policy Instruments category Settings configuration


Policy Instruments - Categories

persuasion, education property rights spending taxation regulation

information activities

direct provision

October 28, 2014 24

October 28, 2014 25

Regulating Forest PracticesAlternative Approaches

Approach Example from protecting riparian values

guidelines (best practices) suggest, but do not require, practices like stream buffers

technology- or practice-based regulations

30 meter no harvest zone

performance- or results-based regulations

maintain water quality within the range of natural variation

compulsory management planning requirement to develop a plan to protect riparian values

Instrument Configuration formality - guidelines or rules? transparency simplicity congruence: rule varies to match

problem

October 28, 2014 26

Instrument Configuration formality - guidelines or rules? transparency simplicity congruence: rule varies to match

problem

October 28, 2014 27

Riparian Protection

October 28, 2014 28

design challenge:

accommodating spatial diversity

Objective: congruent, but simple and clear

1. Vary the rules to account for different circumstances (Prescriptive congruence)

2. Rely on professional judgment (Professional delegation)

3. Rely on local plans (Geographical delegation)

October 28, 2014 29

design challenge:

accommodating spatial diversity

October 28, 2014 30

congruence transparency simplicity

Prescriptive congruence

good good poor

Professional delegation

good poor good

Geographical delegation

good medium medium

Sample Short answer question

Using forest policy examples, describe the three approaches to accommodating spatial diversity.


New Themes

Because of the challenges on conflict resolution, policy is often made without clarifying objectives

Because of limited resources, rational decision-making is usually not feasible

A major challenge for forest policy making is designing policies to accommodate spatial diversity


Thursday

FRPA case study

Tutorials 3 + 4


Artist: Holly Friesen

http://www.hollyfriesen.com/

For future years, fix the first critique of R-C – doesn’t really make sense Consider dropping...

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