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Evidence Based Policy Making And The Influence Of Intangibles

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Evidence-based Policy-making and the Influence of Intangibles ‘The $200 Million Decision’ case study provides insight into agenda setting and policy formulation. It highlights the place of the social construction of issues and policy windows in agenda setting. Also, the case study allows us to reflect upon the role of consultation, collaboration and advocacy in framing persuasive policy recommendations. The power of evidence-based policy formulation as well as the importance of other intangible factors in influencing policy decisions are revealed in the New Zealand Government’s $200 million decision.
The $200 Million Decision
During the 1990s, New Zealand experienced an epidemic of group B meningococcal disease, for which there was no …show more content…

The Government agreed to the recommendation from the Ministry to fund the vaccine program. Policy Issues and Tools
The key policy issue was the serious public health threat that the epidemic presented. The disease can cause death or disability, and children and people with low immune systems were most at risk (New Zealand Ministry of Health b). The Ministry of Health is responsible for the national health and disability system and for responding to the problem (New Zealand Ministry of Health a). The New Zealand population were central to the issue. The higher occurrence of the disease in Maori and Pacific Islander communities reflected societal inequalities. The Ministry of Health identified a vaccine as the most effective tool for combating the epidemic. The vaccine would be free and non-compulsory and available to all New Zealanders under 20 years old. Chiron Corporation, the pharmaceutical company engaged to develop the vaccine, was an additional player in the policy development. Other policy instruments could include addressing poverty and poor housing but these approaches were more complex than a vaccine (Tyson 2007).
A Window into the Policy Agenda
The meningococcal epidemic highlights the significance of social construction in bringing issues to the policy agenda (Colebatch 2009; Hill and Varone 2014). The epidemic was in the public eye for a number of reasons (Masters 2009). It is an emotive issue — the disease

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