Actors Shaping Elderly Policy Agendas

Actors in the Elderly Policy Agenda

Which actors are involved in bringing elderly issues to the government agenda? What role does each agent play in shaping this agenda?

The Dynamics of Agenda Formation

The formation of the agenda involves a changing set of actors who come and go, determining the time devoted to projects in light of other issues that should be addressed. Participation in shaping the institutional agenda tends to be somewhat limited and often tilted in favor of certain groups and issues, sometimes to the exclusion of others. The most obvious source of this imbalance is the fact that there are groups and interests that are better organized and more resourceful than others.

Key Stakeholders and Interest Groups

Legislators and legislative candidates have quickly recognized the benefits of acting as champions for the elderly. While the political culture of the United States tends to give interest groups the right to participate in defining problems that may affect them, the special legitimacy enjoyed by the elderly has allowed their specific groups to play an increasingly active role in defining the problems of old age.

The Role of Labor and Professional Sectors

The labor sector has also played an active role for many years in elderly policies, either directly or through trade union groups that they have formed or supported. In addition to labor, there are a variety of professional and voluntary groups working in the field of aging. The following actors believe they have the right to participate actively in the design of policies:

• Government officials
• Organized interest groups considered legitimate claimants
• Policy professionals within and outside government

Such rights are rooted in the willingness of the public to trust the opinions of certain experts over others.

Public Affairs Networks and Policy Professionals

What is a public affairs network (Heclo, 1978)? Whether acting as representatives of professional associations, partners of administrative bodies, or independent entrepreneurs, professionals dedicated to aging issues have been the most militant advocates for the elderly poor. Taken together, these individuals form what Walker called a "professional community of policies" and what Heclo referred to as a "public affairs network."

Because of their highly specialized knowledge and the value society places on "rational" solutions to problems, these professionals often play a key role in the definition of the policy debate.