A focusing event is often some type of natural catastrophe such as a hurricane or devastating flood. A decline in the stock market or an increase in the number of birth defects are examples of the types of indicators that, when of sufficient magnitude, can gain enormous attention from politicians, the press, and the public. Officials also learn about problems through formal and informal feedback. A report derived from the routine monitoring of costs for a government program would constitute a form of formal feedback. Not all problems can be solved by government intervention, and some matters simply fade away because attention wanes, or other more pressing issues emerge.
Some problems are of a cyclical nature and correct themselves over time.
Problems rarely constitute an agenda item in and of themselves. The policy stream is dependent on a group of hidden participants consisting primarily of specialists in government, academics, and special interest groups. The political stream is the most critical avenue towards placing an item on the agenda. According to Kingdon, it is politicians who set the agenda. The astute policy entrepreneur seeks windows of opportunity that create a favorable political climate for the policy being proposed.