Yu-Ying Kuo

The research on the policy information system: a case study of national health insurance policy in Taiwan

A wrong policy is far worse than corruption. It goes without saying that making good policies has its substantial importance and influence. It is assumed that policy information systems can benefit policy making and enhance the possibility of good policies. Therefore, the research focuses on the discussion of policy information systems, and tries to build up one policy information system for Taiwans national health insurance. The paper discusses significant components of a good policy information system, and illustrates the process of systematically collecting, building, and saving information related to Taiwans national health insurance policy. Overall, the main contribution of the research is to construct a policy information system, which has not been widely or frequently used in the public sectors. It is expected that this study can complement application and research related to policy information systems in government at all levels and across all branches. Furthermore, for the academicians as well as practitioners, the study can also promote the comprehension of policy information systems.A wrong policy is far worse than corruption. It goes without saying that making good policies has its substantial importance and influence. It is assumed that policy information systems can benefit policy making and enhance the possibility of good policies. Therefore, the research focuses on the discussion of policy information systems, and tries to build up one policy information system for Taiwans National Health Insurance. The paper discusses significant components of a good policy information system, and illustrates the process of systematically collecting, building, and saving information related to Taiwans National Health Insurance policy. Overall, the main contribution of the research is to construct a policy information system, which has not been widely or frequently used in the public sectors. It is expected that this study can complement application and research related to policy information systems in government at all levels and across all branches. Furthermore, for the academicians as well as practicianers, the study can also promote the comprehension of policy information systems.

Budgeting and financial management of public infrastructure: The experience of Taiwan

Public–private partnerships (PPPs) for public infrastructure have been the dominant model to create new job opportunities, expand domestic demand, stimulate the economy and deliver on infrastructure needs more efficiently in Taiwan. The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has endeavoured to promote private participation in infrastructure projects, improve the quality of public services, accelerate social and economic development and control government financial expenditure.

Introduction: Comparing Developments in Public Policy Programs in Higher Education in Asia

Public policy programs in Asian higher education have developed dramatically in the past two decades. While, formerly, Public Policy Programs adhered to western-style methods and perspectives, in recent years some have changed direction to encompass unique Asian features. The goal of this special issue is to explore, analyze, and compare the emergence, evolution, and development of public policy programs in Asian universities. First presented at the 6th ICPA-Forum Workshop, June 4–6, 2009 at the Department of Public Policy and Management, Shih Hsin University, Taipei, Taiwan, the articles reviewed and included in this special issue crossnationally compare curriculum design, research focus, and students’ core competence of public policy programs. The workshop began with Dr. David L. Weimer’s keynote presentation entitled ‘‘The Universal and the Particular in Policy Analysis and Training’’, which elaborated on the assumption that the craft skills of policy analysis seem universal, but, given certain political, economic, social, or cultural contexts, feasible alternatives and appropriate tradeoffs among goals in particular need to be adjusted. Policy analysts frequently face conflicts between analytical integrity and other professional values. Several Chinese proverbs are introduced in this article to suggest practical and adequate professional ethics. This paper was published in Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis, Volume 14 (February 2012) as the introductory article. Through the comparison of public policy syllabi in graduate programs, Xun Wu, Allen Yu-Hung Lai, and Do Lim Choi’s paper ‘‘Teaching Public Policy in East Asia: Comparing Aspirations, Potentials and Challenges’’ points out three common challenges in teaching public policy in mainland China, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan. First, public policy education in East Asia tends to adopt Western textbooks, readingmaterials, and practices. Second, the faculty trained in various disciplines brings

Taiwan’s Public Policy Education: US-Style?

Abstract Public administration and public policy education have been studied or compared all over the world. This article explores Taiwan public policy education by examining the public policy course design of bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs of school members of the Taiwan Association for Schools of Public Administration and Affairs (TASPAA). This article attempts to explore: 1) the development of public policy education, 2) the curricular design, and 3) US influence on Taiwan public policy education. The research findings show that undergraduate programs pay particular attention to the relationship between public administration and politics, economics, sociology, and law and between public administration and public management. Training in using technical tools and communication skills for policy analysis is in general underprovided. Nevertheless, MPA programs significantly match the NASPAA master’s standards. Management knowledge, applications of policy analysis tools, and institutional factors of public policy are in general sufficiently provided. Doctoral programs emphasize the importance of public policy education since public policy is listed as one of the required courses in almost every doctoral program.