Rational choice model is a multi-step models that policy makers employ in arriving at decisions and policy choices that offer a range of alternatives to choose from. The rational choice model provides policymakers with steps that include formulation of goals, identification of the criteria for decision making, identification of alternatives and performance of a grouped analysis before making the final decision of what choices to make among the provided alternatives. According to Birkland (105), economics is one of the disciplines that that constantly employed the rational decision model to arrive at amicable solutions among alternatives. Today, politics and politicians lead the way in the application of the model.
Of great use to the politicians in making rational choices is the basis of their behaviors before arriving at the conclusive decisions. Strategic behavior describes the actions taken by an individual, which bear the basic intention of catapulting the influence of the applicant’s influence beyond their competitors(Krogerus and Tscahppeler 108). An effective application of principled strategic behavior, to a politician may land an individual into auxiliary strategies such as focus on particular target section or the dominant strategic segmentation strategy that details classification of target points based on their socio-political and economic stratification. Such strategies can be narrowed down into goals that majorly detail maximization of influence-strengths- as the proponent minimizes their weaknesses proportionately. Other goals may detail long term relevance to a particular target in top of initiative understanding of the course.
Krogerusand Tscahppeler (211) assert that rational choice model application in policy makers is highly believable. The characteristics of this model of flexibility and provision of many alternatives are evident in the behaviors of most policy makers. Presumably, policy makers would like to achieve the best out of every situation in which they are involved. That makes the behaviors of such policy makers patent to the provisions of the rational choice model of policy making.
Works Cited
Birkland, Thomas A. An Introduction to the Policy Process: Theories, Concepts and Models of Public Policy Making. Armonk: M.E Sharpe, 2011. Print
Krogerus, Mikael, and Tscahppeler Roman. The Decision Book: Fifty Models for Strategic Thinking. London: Profile, 2011. Print.
