How Does Public Administration Impact Our Lives?

A life of public service can be particularly rewarding, largely because the public sector has a significant impact on the daily lives of people around the country. Public administrators help ensure community members have access to emergency services and schoolchildren receive the tools they need for education. Their goal is to support productivity and a high quality of life for the population they serve.

What Is Public Administration?

Britannica defines public administration as the process of implementing government policies, which includes:

Creating and implementing new government policies.

Organizing activities and plans for government organizations or agencies supported by public tax dollars.
Directing and coordinating government policies.
Overseeing government operations or the operations of agencies supported by public tax dollars.

In the United States, public administration occurs at all levels of government, including the local, state, and national levels. In addition, professionals specializing in public administration and pursuing a career in public service may also work for non-profit organizations, which often work to provide services for specific populations within a community.

How Public Administration Impacts Our Daily Lives

One of the most common misconceptions among people is that the government doesn't necessarily have an impact on their daily lives. They feel detached from elected officials at the local, state, and national levels, and sometimes, they feel disenfranchised. However, it's important to remember that there's more to running a government than electing politicians. Public servants are the key to successful government operations, and those who specialize in public administration can have a positive impact on your daily life in a variety of ways.

Public Policy Shapes the Economy

The public policy created, shaped, and implemented by public administrators, government officials, and elected leaders directly impacts the economy. In the lives of everyday people, the strength of the economy will determine the types of jobs available, their earning potential, and their ability to succeed financially.

Fiscal policy impacts the economy by:

Determining the type and amount of taxes collected.
Shaping the type and scope of public services provided.
Impacting the amount of borrowing that can take place in an economy.
Influencing the spending power of consumers.

It is important to keep in mind that fiscal policies are created at all levels of government. Therefore, a variety of factors influence the strength of an individual economic market. For example, in some cases, the national economy may be strong as a whole. In contrast, the economy within a particular state may be struggling, depending on the types of industries that anchor that state's economic market.

Public Administration Manages Healthcare Access

The health of a population is heavily influenced by the public policies in place in a given community. Whether someone is serving as a city manager at the local level or managing a federal government agency, a public administration official can create and implement policy that improves the health, well-being, and livelihood of all people in a population.

Per the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, public policy can help improve healthcare access and reduce the health equity gap that exists. Effective policy is essential to reducing the health disparities that exist and improving outcomes for people of all backgrounds. The fact of the matter is that evidence-based health policies are essential to preventing disease and promoting overall health and well-being, highlighting the pivotal role that public administration plays in terms of managing healthcare access.

Infrastructure and Transportation Are Public Priorities

Knowing that they are investing in their government, taxpayers expect to see their tax dollars used efficiently and effectively, particularly when it comes to improving and updating infrastructure. Voters are often motivated by concrete examples of government spending, or lack thereof, in their communities, and across many communities, transportation and infrastructure are top priorities.

Government policies should be created to address infrastructure issues that directly impact communities, such as:

Establishing funding for multiple types of infrastructure within a community.
Providing local communities and regional authorities with the ability to determine the type of infrastructure that works best for their areas.
Leveraging the power of collaborative partnerships with private sector investors to create innovative infrastructure and transportation plans.
Creating infrastructure policies that promote both sustainability and accessibility.

Education Systems Are Managed Through Public Administration

Public administration plays a pivotal role in ensuring that children of all ages have the ability to enjoy a high-quality educational experience. From the types of books children read in school to the funding available for extracurricular activities, public administration truly shapes the type of learning experience that students in an individual community enjoy.

Public administrators responsible for creating and implementing policies that shape education systems should actively work to develop policies that:

Take into account evidence-based educational strategies that educators use at all levels.
Accommodate the physical growth and emotional development milestones students hit at different points in their lives.
Consider the social determinants of health that impact a particular community.

For instance, public policy has ensured that students have access to free or low-cost meals during the school day, which reduces the hunger rate in a community and supports better learning outcomes for all students.

Law Enforcement and Public Safety Policies Affect Communities

Law enforcement officers and public safety professionals are central to the success of community life, whether you live in a quiet, rural community or a bustling urban environment. However, the law enforcement and public safety policies in place can have a direct impact on the atmosphere of a community. In general, public administrators work to ensure that law enforcement officers have the funding they need to effectively police a community and create a sense of safety for residents. However, The Policy Circle further clarifies that law enforcement policies that emphasize local involvement, transparency, and accountability are more likely to have a positive impact on communities as a whole.

Social Welfare Programs Support Vulnerable Populations

In some cases, public administrators work to create public policies and establish funding sources for social welfare programs. Social welfare programs are public assistance programs designed for people in a community who meet specific income requirements. These programs aim to support vulnerable populations — for example, by providing income to elderly citizens after retirement or helping low-income families afford nutritious, high-quality food.

Environmental Policies Protect Public Health and Natural Resources

Environmental policies are designed to promote public health and well-being and protect natural resources, with the ultimate goal of reducing the harmful impact of humans on the local environment. Environmental policies are created at the local, state, and federal levels to ensure that the health of the environment is considered when making key decisions.

The Future of Public Administration and Policy Decisions

Public administration will continue to play a crucial role in the policy decisions made in the months and years ahead. Professionals interested in pursuing a rewarding career in public service will find that a graduate degree program aimed at the public sector is the best way to enhance their skills and expand their knowledge.