Rational Decision Making Model IntroductionRational decision making models can be defined as the steps used when making choices related to solving public or private problems and creating policies to address them . According to Kraft and Furlong (2013; 118), these steps include the following; define and analyze the problem, construct policy alternatives, develop evaluation criteria, evaluate alternatives, and draw conclusions. The main step in the decision-making process is to define the problem; that is, who the problem is of interest to, what the problem is, and where the problem exists. The second part of the first step is to analyze the current circumstances or status quo, also finding out what the main causes of the problem are and how they can be addressed through political action (Kraft and Furlong, 2013). The second step is to construct policy alternatives, outlining which notions or possibilities represent a viable solution for the specific problem. The third step is to develop evaluation criteria and discover the best practical solutions for the problem. During this phase, the possible costs involved, the level of effectiveness and the political feasibility are also discussed. The fourth step is to evaluate the alternatives; at this point in the process it has been decided that the problem will be addressed and it will be determined which policy would be most favorable considering all situations. The fifth step is to draw conclusions; what other influences should be evaluated and which course of action is the most likely based on existing knowledge (Kraft and Furlong, 2013). There are several advantages and disadvantages to the rational decision-making model. Some of the most common benefits of t...... middle of paper......s: http://www.governing.com/gov-data/economy-finance/minimum-wage-workers-by - state-statistics-2013-totals.htmlKraft and Furlong. (2013). Politics, analysis and public policy alternatives. Washington DC: Sage.Levin-Waldman, O. (2011). From a narrowly defined minimum wage to a broader wage policy. Review of Social Economics, 77-96.Miller, C. &. (2013). The impact of overskills on earnings: Extending the overeducation model to language proficiency. . Review of the Economics of Education, 36263-275.US Bureau of Economic Analysis. (n.d.). Retrieved March 1, 2014, from Bureau of Economic Analysis: http://www.bea.gov/about/BEAciting.htmU.S. Department of Labor. (n.d.). Retrieved March 1, 2014, from Bureau of Labor Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/cps/minwage2011.htmWhite House. (n.d.). Retrieved March 1, 2014, from whitehouse.gov: http://www.whitehouse.gov