ĐỀ CƯƠNG ÔN TẬP CSC

1/ Characteristics of main public policy instruments that government policymakers have

available
The purpose of policy instrument is to:
 Achieve behavior change within individuals
 Realize social, political or economic conditions
 Provide services to the public
Public policy Characteristics Example
instrument
Regulation Gov decrees that require or prevent  Laws enacted by the legislature
individuals, corporations, and other units  Rules adopted by the bureaucracy
of gov from doing st
The most widely used instrument
Gov management Implementation of services or  Education and defense
management of resources directly to  Municipal services like police and fire
citizens protection
Education, information Education of citixens in attempt to  Appeal to support relief efforts after a
& persuasion persuade them to behave in a certain disaster
way
Taxing and spending The collection of expense of money to  Social Security to support the elderly in
achieve policy goals retirement
 Cigarette tax to discourage smoking and
raise revenue for other programs.
Market mechanisms Use of market to encourage the public to  Revenue-neutral carbon tax to limit the
make choices or correct problems use of fossil fuel
 Publication of the energy efficiency of
appliances

2/ Different stages in the policy process model? Review the role of each stage.
7 stages in the policy process model:
Step Activity Participants Example
Step 1: - Publicizing societal problems Mass media The gov conducted a survey, showing
Problem - Expressing demands for gov Interest groups that the epidemic leads to job losses,
identificati action Citizen initiatives affecting workers' lives. The gov realizes
on Public opinion that this is an important issue that needs
a subsidy policy
Step 2: Deciding what issues will be Elites, including Determine problems do governments
Agenda decided, what problems will president, congress, and businesses need to solve to support
setting be addressed by government Candidates for workers
elective office
Mass media
Step 3: Developing policy proposals to Think task The Government and businesses propose
Formulatin resolve issues and ameliorate President and several policies to support workers such
g policy problems executive office as unemployment allowance,
Congressional accommodation arrangement, job search
committees support,...
Interest groups
Step 4: - Selecting a proposal Interest groups To support unemployed workers, the
Policy - Developing political support President Government signed Resolution 116/NQ-
legitimatio for it Congress CP
n - Enacting it into law Courts
- Deciding on its
constitutionality
Step 5: - Budgeting and President and White To implement Resolution 116/NQ-CP, the
Policy appropriations House staff Government requested the Ministry of
implementa - Organizing departments and Executive Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs to
tion agencies departments and assume the prime responsibility and
- Providing payments or agencies coordinate with relevant agencies.
services Independent agencies Funding for support is taken from the
 - Levying taxes and gov corporations balance of the Unemployment Insurance
Fund until the end of 2020, about VND
30,000 billion.
Step 6: - Reporting outputs of gov Executive The government evaluates the
Policy programs departments and effectiveness of the policy, see how
evaluation - Evaluating impacts of agencies many people are supported, the level of
policies on target and non- Congressional satisfaction of the people
target groups oversight committees
- Proposing changes and Mass media
“reforms” Think tasks
Step 7: Modification of policy goals The disbursement process of the policy is
Policy and means in light of new still slow, the government needs to make
change information or shifting political changes
environment.

3/ Main functions of the National Assembly in Vietnam’s political system?

3.1 National Assembly: the highest representative organization of the people, the highest
organization of state power of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; the sole organization that has the
constitutional and legislative rights.
Characteristics:
- Decides the fundamental domestic and foreign policies, socio-economic tasks, national defense and
security issues, the major principles governing the State machinery, the social relations and
activities of citizens.
- Exercises the right to supreme supervision of all activities of the State.
- Has the highest authority to make Constitution and Laws. Legal documents promulgated by the
National Assembly are the Constitution, Codes, Laws and Resolutions.
Functions: legislative - deciding the important issues of the country - supreme supervision power.
- The Legislative Function: the sole body empowered to adopt the Constitution and the laws. The
National Assembly not only adopts and amends the Constitution and the law, but also decides on
the legislative program.
- The function of deciding the important issues of the Nation: make decision on the socio-economic
development plans of the country; on the national financial and monetary policies and on the
estimates of the national revenue and expenditure plans.
- The supervision function: exercises the supreme power of supervision over all activities of the State.

3.2. The state President (Head of State): is elected by the National Assembly from among its
deputies to represent the nation internally and externally.
Function: has major executive and legislative power:
 Promulgates legal documents adopted by the National Assembly, such as the Constitution, laws
and ordinances;
 Has overall command of the armed forces and holds the office of Chairman of the National
Defense and Security Council;
 Appoints/ proposes the appointment, releases from duty, dismisses the Vice-Presidents, Prime
Minister, Chief Judge of the Supreme People’s Court, Head of the Supreme People’s Procuracy.

3.3 Supreme People’s Court: the highest judicial organization of Vietnam.

Function: adjudicate cases and resolve other matters according to the provisions of law.
Main operating principles: The judges and jurors are independent and only obey the laws
Open hearing process, in which jurors play an essential role,
Defendants have the right to defend themselves/hire lawyers/use their native
languages in courts.

3.4. Supreme People’s Procuracy: observes the implementation and respect for the Constitution
and laws by Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, Governmental organizations, armed forces, security
forces and all citizens; and to practice public prosecution as stipulated by laws, ensuring due law
enforcement.
3.5. The Government: the executive organization of the National Assembly, the supreme state
administrative agency of VN
Function:
 In charge of tasks assigned by the State (politics, socio-economy, national defense, security,
external relations)
 Maintains effective operation of the State (apparatus from the central to grassroots levels)
 Ensures the respect and implementation of the Constitution and laws
 Promotes the people’s sense of mastery in national defense and construction
 Ensures stability and improves the people’s material and spiritual life.

4/ Four main types of market failures that warrant/need government intervention.

A monopoly or oligopoly exists when one/several persons/companies Example: electric power; 80%
dominate the market and can control the price of a product or service. of the world's eyewear brands
Government usually accept this but institute regulations to ensure that are owned by the Italian group
the public is treated fairly Luxottica
A negative externality occurs when two parties interact in a market Example: pollution
and, as a result of that interaction, a third party is harmed and does not
get compensation
A positive externality occurs the same way as a negative externality, Example: society benefits
but the third party gains something from the two-party interaction and from a well-educated
does not have to pay for it. population
Information failure: Information is not fully/easily available, market Example: Without gov,
failure may occur. consumers would find it
At times, the consumers’ lack of complete information, they can adjust impossible to figure out
their buying behavior if they believe there is something wrong. When whether medical drugs are safe
the lack of information leads the consumer to suffer significant financial and effective.
or personal loss, the gov may step in.
Inability to provide for the public: occurs when markets cannot provide for the public Example: One person’s use of cable
good. A public or collective good is defined by two criteria: the ability to exclude someone services does not preclude another
from getting the good and the ability to jointly consume the good. person’s use, but a cable company’s
charges may exclude low-income
individuals.

5/ Opportunities and challenges of implementing public-private partnerships as a

government management instrument?
Opportunities
- MOBILIZING INVESTMENT RESOURCES: from the private sector for public projects, which often
require large capital and long implementation time => solve the shortage of investment capital.
- PROMOTE INNOVATION: by allowing the private sector to bring new and innovative solutions to
public => improve the quality of public services, reduce costs and increase efficiency.
- JOB CREATION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH: by encouraging investment and creating new
business opportunities => more jobs, improve income and raise living standards.
Challenges
- LACK OF TRANSPARENCY & ACCOUNTABILITY: if not carefully designed and implemented =>
abuse, corruption and discrimination.
- FINANCIAL RISKS: if the PPP project is not successful or if there are changes in the economic or
political landscape.
- COMPLEXITY AND COST OF THE PROCEDURE => delays and increased costs.
Example: Hanoi - Hai Phong Expressway Project: is implemented by a joint venture between
Vietnam Expressway Development Investment Corporation (VEC) and Ha Hai Road and Bridge
Construction and Investment Company Limited (HACICO) => improve transportation capacity, reduce
traffic accidents and promote regional socio-economic development.

6/ Differences between distributive policies and redistributive policies.

Distributive policies Redistributive policies
Definitio A policy that collect payments or resources - A policy in which costs are born by a
n broadly but concentrates direct benefits on small number of groups/individuals, but
relatively few free-market economics, (without benefits are expected to be enjoyed by
 any government intervention = the most a different group.
effective way for markets to operate.) - Provide benefits to one group at the
expense of another, often reflect
ideological or class conflict
Aim Ensure proper distribution of opportunities, Change the existing distribution of
goods, services among different sections of resources/benefits => rearrangement of
society outcomes of pre-existing or other
Meant for specific groups / sections of society policies
Differen - Distributive justice means the gov uses its owned income - Redistributive justice means the gov
ce or assets (oil, reserves…) to distribute wealth according to uses taxes or taking property to
its idea of fairness. directly redistribute wealth.
- Distributive policies involve giving resources mainly to - Redistributive policies often give
build widespread infrastructure (education, healthcare…), resources directly to certain
rather than directly to particular individuals or groups. individuals or groups, making the
- Significantly benefit a few people and don't cost much for impact more visible.
many others. - Provide significant benefits to some
parts of society but can come with
high costs for others.

7/ Differences between distributive policies and regulatory policies.

Distribute policies Regulatory policies
Definiti A policy that collect payments or - It's about how governments use rules, laws,
on resources broadly but concentrates direct and other tools to achieve better economic
benefits on relatively few free-market and social results, aiming to improve
economics, (without any government citizens' and businesses' lives.
intervention = the most effective way for - They impose restrictions or limitations on
markets to operate.) the behavior of individuals and groups.
Exampl public education, highways, and public consumer protection policies, anti-corruption.
e safety, or subsidizing agriculture.

7.1/ Differences between direct democracy and republic (representative democracy) as

forms of government
Direct Democracy Representative democracy

Meaning People participate directly in making The people elect official to create and vote
government decisions on matters of gov on their behalf
There are several types of republic:
parliamentary republic, presidential
republic, socialism…

Characteris - Direct democracy is a flexible governance system - Elected representatives' powers are defined by the
tics that evolves constantly. constitution, which establishes the basic laws and
- It ensures accountability and effective local framework of government.
government, with citizens partnering with elected - The constitution may include limited forms of direct
representatives. democracy, like recall and ballot initiative elections.
- It limits the influence of pressure groups, controls - An independent judiciary, such as the courts, can
spending, and makes legislative decisions through invalidate laws deemed unconstitutional.
fair mediation.

Representa - Enables the citizens to have a direct say - Citizens are represented by elected
tion in the governance of the country. officials who make decisions on their
- All citizens have an equal voice in the behalf.
decision-making process. - Elected representatives may also have
the power to select other government
leaders, such as a prime minister or
president.
Advantages - Popular sovereignty It's efficient: A single elected official
- Giving voice and control to ordinary represents the desires of a large number of
citizens people.
- Unpacking the range of choices offered It's empowering: The people of each of
by parties the country’s political subdivisions (state,
- Forcing incumbents to confront difficult district, region, etc.) choose the
issues representatives who will make their voices
- Resolving unexpected questions, heard by the national government.
authorizing changes in direction
- Settling controversy

Stability Can be less stable, as every decision is Tends to be more stable, as the decision-
subject to direct public vote. making process is more structured and less
subject to the whims of the public.

8/ Differences between democracy and monarchy as forms of government.

Democracy Monarchy

Meaning A gov in which political power - influence over A gov and a state administration, there is one ruler,
institutions, leaders, and policies - rests in the hands usually a hereditary ruler, holds political power.
of the people.

Constitution All of the actors in the state are Depending on the kind of monarchy, a
governed by a written or unwritten constitution may or may not exist. Mostly,
constitution. The constitution contains the monarch has total control over the
the laws of a democratic state. people.

Freedom of People are free to speak about policies, criticize the People have no right to criticize the monarchy
expression gov, and amend current laws The king and queen are unaffected by the law.

Accountability Elections are performed fairly No system for conducting fair and honest elections

Civil rights Equal access to social opportunities, legal protection The granting and defense of civil rights are forbidden

Equality People are free to express themselves however they People are not treated equally under a royal regime
see fit, conduct events, and engage in activities of
their choosing

Legal Everyone is given the same legal protections and is Different people may be provided with different
protection never subject to discrimination levels of legal protection

Characteristics - Leaders have been elected by the people - Led by an individual, having inherited the position,
- There are many types of democracies, direct and and passes it on to the relatives
representative but all the main feature of the people - Absolute Monarchy: In the past, had great power and
being able to decide to lead and represent their made all decisions. And today, most act like the head
interest of state, no power regarding the actual governing of
- Through the process of free and fair election so the the country.
people can give their opinions about issues occuring - Constitutional Monarchy: a country which has a
in their communities written constitution that sets out the rule for how a
country will be governed and the rights and the
responsibilities of its people.

Strengths - Often prioritize individual rights and freedoms, - Provide continuity and stability as leadership
protecting citizens' liberties through laws and transitions occur within the royal family, often
constitutions. preserving cultural and historical traditions.
- Encourage debate and diverse viewpoints, fostering - Citizens are involved in decision making indirectly,
innovation and stability through peaceful transitions Reps are usually more educated, and good at problem
 of power solving and decision making.
- Can make decisions swiftly without the delays that
sometimes accompany democratic processes.

Weaknesses - A direct democracy only works when a small number - Decision making takes more time, as reps, must
of people are involved debate and discuss issues
- The ability to gather citizens in one place is - Representatives might not always agree with their
necessary, so that everyone can debate and discuss. constituency
This makes a direct democracy difficult for every - If citizens are not involved, special interest groups
populous country. can influence decision making
- Decision making involving all citizens is time - They can make bad decisions or abuse these powers
consuming. All citizens give input, debate, discuss,..
Therefore, it takes a lot of time to make laws or
decisions.

Example India, USA, France… Middle East countries like the United Arab Emirate
(UAE) and Saudi Arabia.

9/ Differences between federal and unitary system of government.

Unitary system Federal system

Characteri One central gov controls many states/ Power is shared by powerful central gov and
stic provinces states or provinces that are given considerable
Power is not shared between states, self-rule, usually through their own legislatures
countries or provinces

Strength 1, uniform policies, laws, political, 1, Federal unity but local gov handle local
enforcement, administration problems
throughout the country 2, Local gov have to be response to people who
2, Less duplication of services and elect them
fewer conflicts between national and 3, Central gov can devote more time and
local gov energy to national and international problems
3, Greater unity and stability 4, More opportunities for participation in
making nc decisions

Weakness 1, Central gov out of touch with local 1, Duplication of services

concerns 2, Citizens living in different part of the country
2, Slow in meeting local problems will be treated differently, not only in spending
3, If the central gov get too involved in programs, such as welfare, but in legal systems
local problems it may not meet the that assign in different places different
needs of all its citizens penalties to similar offenses or that
differentially enforce civil rights laws
3, Disputes over power/ national supremacy
versus state’ s rights
4, International relations- states may pass laws
that counter national policy

Examples China, United Kingdom (although The United States, Australia, the Federal
Scotland has been granted self-rule) Republic of Germany
10/ Opportunities and challenges presented by the application of behavioural insights to
public policy?
The use of behavioral public policy measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Opportunity:
- IMPROVE POLICY EFFECTIVENESS: Understanding human behavior allows for smarter policy designs
- REDUCE ENFORCEMENT COSTS: Behavioral interventions are often cheaper than strict regulations, using nudges
instead of fines to guide behavior.
- INCREASE FAIRNESS: Understanding behavior helps create fairer policies that minimize harm to disadvantaged groups.
 - BUILD TRUST: Policies that consider people's needs and behaviors can increase public trust in government.
Challenge:
- LACK OF CONVINCING EVIDENCE: some behavioral interventions that are effective in one context
may not be effective in another. Careful research and evaluation is needed before widespread
application.
- RISK OF VIOLATING FREEDOM:, avoiding creating a feeling of manipulation or control. It is
necessary to ensure transparency and respect people's freedom of choice.
- EASY TO MAKE MISTAKES: Misunderstanding about behavior can lead to wrong policy design,
contrary to the original purpose. Experts knowledge are needed to participate in policy development.
- DIFFICULTY IN MEASURING IMPACT: Evaluating the effectiveness of behavioral interventions is
often complex, as many different factors can influence outcomes.
For example: Using behavioral insights in COVID-19 prevention:
 Emphasize personal benefits: Messages about masks should highlight health protection.
 Use visuals: Use images and videos for effective communication on hand washing and distancing.
 Provide choices: Offer app download or manual options for higher acceptance.
 Encourage public commitment: Promote public pledges for preventive measures like vaccination.
The application of behavioral insights to public policy is a new and promising field. It is necessary to
carefully consider the opportunities and challenges to maximize the benefits, while ensuring
transparency, fairness and respect for people's freedoms.

11, What policies has American Government implemented to recover the economy due to
the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic? (?) What implementation strategies are appropriate
to implement these policies? (top-down or bottom up)
The policies and programs that the US has launched in response to Covid-19
 Congress passed 4 main sections of the emergency act, with varying levels of intergovernmental
investment and support
 The Covid-19 Economic Assistance, Relief and Security Act (CARES)
Unemployment insurance:
 Level 1: Always active in each state, funded by payroll taxes, and available for up to 26 weeks.
 Level 2: Activates during a recession to extend benefits by 13 weeks.
 Level 3: Emergency welfare extensions passed by Congress during recessions.
=> The US response to Covid-19 depends mainly on level 2 and level 3
Medicaid:
 Medicaid pays for Covid 19 tests
 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
 Food and Nutrition Services (FNS): required for each individual who wants to receive benefits to
apply in person, to report using SNAP funds for grocery delivery and purchases at stores.
restaurants in most states
Policy review:
• Programs that rely heavily on state funding, such as UI and Medicaid, require ongoing emergency
federal spending
• Complicated registration procedures can also create barriers to accessing benefits
• In the case of UI, inadequate investment in public administrative infrastructure can greatly delay
the application for new benefits in times of crisis.
Implementation
Bottom-up vision Top-down vision
approach
Starting point of Activities of actors of the implementation Decisions are taken by political
policy implementation network at local level (public action and administrative authorities
network)
Process for identifying From the bottom (street level) to the top From the top and public sector
the main actors of with simultaneous consideration of public down to the bottom and private
public policy and private actors sector

Criteria for the - No a priori clearly defined criteria - Regularity (conformity, legality)
evaluation of the - Eventual level of participation of actors of implementation procedure
quality of policy involved - Efficary: extent of realization of
implementation - Eventual degree of conflict in the the formal objectives
 implementation

12/ COVID-19 response in a unitary state: emerging lessons from Vietnam

Vietnam's COVID-19 response has been widely praised for its effectiveness in containing the virus and
minimizing its impact on the country.
First Wave: Started with a case from Wuhan in January 2020. Initial measures focused on flights from China.
Second Wave: Started in March 2020 after a period of no new cases. Increased asymptomatic cases led to community spread.
Third Wave: Began in July 2020 after 99 days without community transmission, traced to cases in Da Nang and neighboring
provinces.
Key Policies Implemented:
 Border Controls: Closed borders, imposed mandatory 14-day quarantine for all incoming passengers, and suspended entry for
foreigners.
 Public Education: Launched extensive campaigns using media and social platforms to educate the public on COVID-19
prevention.
 Social Distancing: Implemented nationwide social distancing measures and restrictions on intercity travel to curb
transmission.
 Health System Mobilization: Utilized healthcare, public services, and security forces in a coordinated response.
Achievements:
 Effective Public Health Response: Reduced community transmission through rapid policy actions and mass mobilization.
 Lessons for Future Crises: Highlighted the importance of proactive measures, public education, coordinated national efforts.
Vietnam's approach underscores the significance of swift, coordinated action and public cooperation in managing health crises
effectively.

12, Identify and analyze factors that have substantially shaped Vietnam's response to the
Covid – 19 pandemic
(1) Command and Control Governance:
 Vietnam's administrative systems enabled effective coordination for pandemic mitigation.
 Measures included isolating cases, enforcing movement restrictions, and directing resources to critical areas.
 Strict border controls and localized lockdowns were key strategies.
(2) Extensive Preparation:
 Vietnam's readiness was bolstered by strong capacity, expertise, and coordinated health sector practices.
 Preparedness efforts included scenario planning, networked health facilities, and robust contact-tracing systems.
 Past healthcare crisis experiences contributed to readiness.
(3) Fostering Cooperative Sentiment and Solidarity:
 Public support and unity played a crucial role in Vietnam's COVID-19 response.
 Embracing social distancing measures helped mitigate virus spread and garnered political backing.
(4) Political Readiness and Communication:
 Timely and transparent communication from government and media provided reliable updates on the outbreak.
 Ongoing scientific research informed effective decision-making and public health strategies.
(5) Cross-Sector Cooperation:
 Emergency measures integrated resources across sectors like health, media, transportation, education, and defense.
 This collaborative approach ensured a unified and efficient response to the pandemic.
(6) Adaptation:
 Vietnam adjusted policies dynamically based on evolving epidemiological data.
 Innovations included digital tools for data collection, targeted quarantine measures, and ongoing training for healthcare
professionals.
 Flexible policymaking at both central and local levels facilitated effective responses to changing circumstances.