Policy Analysis and Political Sustainability

Abstract

Policies usually have to be sustained for a substantial period of time to have their intended impact, but they may face a number of important political challenges after enactment that can result in their repeal or erosion. These challenges follow recurrent patterns and frequently can be predicted in advance, at least in their broad parameters. Policy analysts should, therefore, consider political sustainability as an important criterion in designing policies and evaluating policy alternatives. Drawing on research on the ways that policies create self-reinforcing and self-undermining feedbacks, this article provides a “checklist” of potential sources, risk factors, and warning signs for potential challenges to political sustainability. It also identifies and discusses a set of strategies that both program defenders and challengers can use to achieve their objectives. The article applies this analysis to the case of the Affordable Care Act.