This chapter describes two new interdisciplinary fields defined by Ashu M. G. Solo called “public policy engineering” and “computational public policy.” Public policy engineering is the application of engineering, computer science, mathematics, or natural science to solving problems in public policy. Computational public policy is the application of computer science or mathematics to solving problems in public policy. Public policy engineering and computational public policy include, but are not limited to, principles and methods for public policy formulation, decision making, analysis, modeling, optimization, forecasting, and simulation. The definition of these two new fields will greatly increase the pace of research and development in these important fields.
TopPublic Policy Engineering And Computational Public Policy
Public policy engineering is the application of engineering, computer science, mathematics, or natural science to solving problems in public policy. Computational public policy is the application of computer science or mathematics to solving problems in public policy. Therefore, computational public policy is a subset of public policy engineering. Public policy engineering and computational public policy include, but are not limited to, principles and methods for public policy formulation, public policy decision making, public policy analysis, public policy modeling, public policy optimization, public policy forecasting, and public policy simulation. Public policy engineering and computational public policy are more technically, computationally, mathematically, and scientifically rigorous approaches to the field of public policy.
The term e-government (Piaggesi, Sund, & Castelnovo, 2011) refers to the use of information and communication technologies in government operations, access to government data, interactions between government agencies, interactions between government and citizens, and interactions between government and external organizations. Therefore, an e-government activity only constitutes public policy engineering when principles or methods in engineering, computer science, mathematics, or natural science are used in public policy formulation, decision making, analysis, modeling, optimization, forecasting, or simulation. An e-government activity only constitutes computational public policy when principles or methods in computer science or mathematics are used in public policy formulation, decision making, analysis, modeling, optimization, forecasting, or simulation.
The formulation of criminal sentencing policy does not constitute public policy engineering or computational public policy. However, the formulation of criminal sentencing policy involving the use of computational intelligence methods for determination of criminal sentences would constitute public policy engineering and computational public policy.