Product Description
This book both introduces and explores the hows and whys of the practices of public policy. It provides reality-based practical advice about how to actually conduct policy analysis and demonstrate the application of advanced analytic techniques.A five-part organization emphasizes that policy analysis is client-oriented and raises ethical issues; provides rationales for public policy— describing the limitations to effective public policy and generic policy solutions; gives practical advice about implementing policy analysis; presents several examples illustrating how analysts have approached policy problems and the differences that their efforts have made; and summarizes the role and work of the analyst and challenges the analyst to both “do-well and do-good.”For individuals interested in policy analysis and the analytical process. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Disappointed
I paid for expedited shipping with the expectation that it would arrive in the estimated delivery time. I contacted the seller and was informed that their shipping department made an error and sent it through media mail. After almost a month of waiting on the textbook it has still NOT arrived.

One of the best texts in policy analysis
This is one of the very best textbooks in the study of policy analysis.

The first part of the book sets the context.It provides a neat case study of the Canadian salmon fishery to give an example of basic policy analysis.Following this are chapters on the nature of policy analysis and the professional ethics related to the endeavor.

One of the most important elements of this book is the next section--the economics of policy analysis.The text discusses the logic of economics, why government intervention through making policy can make economic sense under certain conditions, and the danger of "government failure" (when governmernt actions may work against good economic sense).

The following section focuses on the variety of policy options available to government to address problems.Some "solutions" are market-based; others include regulations and taxes.The volume goes on to explore techniques such as cost-benefit analysis.Two case studies of policy analysis round out the substantive chapters.The last chapter focuses on the responsibility of policy analysts to both "do well" and to "do good."

Not an easy read, but a book that provides the basic underpinnings for understanding policy analysis--and how to do policy analysis.

GREAT TRANSACTION!
I was pleased with the purchase. The item came fast and in the promised condition.

as good as anything out there
This is 'the' book when it comes to public policy analysis.I have read the 3rd and 4th editions and both are great foundational books for anyone looking to do public policy analysis as a practitioner or academic researcher.

Great overview of policy analysis
I read this book for a class and it gives a fantastic overview of the basics of policy analysis.It discusses the reasons for government intervention in markets, the analysis of policies and ways of going about doing a thorough policy analysis.Easy to read and very informative! ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Destruction and Chaos, organized in a focusing event dynamic
This book was good overall.I would recommend this as reading only for those studying policy with regard to disasters.This reading was on my syllabus for my policy process class.

The good parts of this book are conveniently organizing natural and man-made disasters (earthquakes, hurricanes, oil spills and nuclear power accidents) into sections and framing his discussion around a group of policy makers and policy communities.

Where this book wasn't so good was his use of repetition.He could have condensed this book down to 50 pages or so and still got the point across.He repeats what he says too often in order to either increase the page count or to get his point across.

... Read more

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This unique anthology exposes readers to a collection of original works that provide a bridge between issues related to public policy. Readers are exposed to a “whole-system” view of policy, crime, and criminal justice. Current, relevant, and fascinating readings provide a window into the state of today's criminal justice system. For professionals in the criminal justice field. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Public Policy and Criminal Justice
Very interesting read. It was a required read for my college class. It goes into the intricate methods of policy making in the United States, what is involved, the problems and solutions and makings of good fair policies. ... Read more

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This text is a comprehensive introduction to public policy, covering both the process and the content of policy making.The authors seek an interdisciplinary study of public policy, focusing on the role of ethics and values in explaining the whys of policy making.The text compares our policies with those of other countries---Canda, Japan, Germany, etc. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Public Policy
The book was in great condition and is the book I needed exactly for a good price.

very satisfied with my purchase
The books were in good condition as stated in their descriptioins and arrived in a timely fashion.

Good Sound Textbook
I had Prof Malone as a teacher. Her textbook on public policy is very informative and lucid. Also, easy to understand! ... Read more

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This title offers an overview of the current thinking on the public policy process, with an emphasis on accessibility and synthesis. It is intended for both academic and professional readers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Policy Review
I needed some additional information to help in understanding the policy process for an assignment I needed to complete and the book gave detailed explanations which I fould quite helpful.

Solid introduction to the policy process
There are a number of books "out there" on the nature of the public policy process.This is one of the better textbooks on the subject.

The book begins with a solid chapter on the nature of public policy and how we study the phenomenon.This flows into the second chapter, which focuses on the history of public policy (going back to Constitutional design) and culminates with a discussion (albeit brief) of the fragmentation of the policy process.

The next two chapters explore key actors--official governmental actors like the President and Congress and unofficial actors such as media and think tanks.

Thereafter, the text focuses on the various "stages" of the policy process--from agenda setting to policy types to policy design and the toolbox of policies to implementation.

The volume concludes with an examination of several theories of the policy process.

This book isn't the best of the lot; however, it is a good, serviceable introduction to the policy process.

A clear public policy book...it is possible!
This book explains how public policy is made, the types of models which could be used to make/evaluate a public policy, and an overview of how public policymaking fits into the American government process.

Since most people have only learned about the three branches of government, they may not be certain how passed laws are enacted. Lacking the time and expertise needed to implement these laws, legislators at the federal, state, and local levels delegate authority to agencies to make the policy which will implement these laws.

The chief benefit of this text is the qualitative approach which Birkland personally prefers (although he does warn that other approaches use an economics-based approach) and clear explanations. It also contains an annotated bibliography of influential works and a dictionary of key terms used in the public policymaking process.

Birkland's text is written so that it can be used either by students or public policy practitioners. Instead of bogging down the reader in minutiae and personal liberty, he wanted to emphasize how important public policy is.
... Read more

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A thorough explication of the implementation process. The framework delineates five distinct stages beginning with formulation through revision and reformulation. Five separate cases of implementation are examined within this framework: clean air, school desegregation, new towns, compensatory education and coastal zone management. Useful at both the undergraduate and graduate as well as professional levels, this book carved an important niche in the field of implementation studies when first published in 1983 by Scott, Foresman Publishers. The extensive "Postscript" written for the UPA edition, takes note of new approaches and changing emphases in this field since 1983. ... Read more

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Develop an understanding of how values connote principles, goals, or standards that an individual, class, organization, or society holds dear with this affordable CENGAGE ADVANTAGE BOOKS version of PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION: CLASHING VALUES IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF PUBLIC POLICY.This textbook uses a "clash of values" approach that gets to the heart of how administrators make decisions and implement public policy. Case studies and examples capture the intricacies of this unique area of political science. You'll alsoinvestigate the role public administrators play throughout the policy process, including targeting a problem, placing it on the government's agenda, structuring the alternatives that elected officials use, implementing public policy through the programs and procedures they largely determine, and finally, evaluating the success or failure of a policy. Finally, you'll explore the reorganization of the national bureaucracies following the 9/11 attacks that prompted the enactment of the PATRIOT Act and the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Find another book!
This is by far a horrible book to explain and provide examples of public administration. Thank goodness for experienced professors! I urge you to find another textbook to use in regards to the basics of public administration. The layout of this book is not good, text is confusing and examples in some cases are irrelevant. I'm a PA major 4th year, please hear me out.

Very good broad public administrative review
Excellent overview of past-to-present public administrative theory and practice.Used for a graduate level class, and unfortunately the only book that even came close to that expected level of reading.Recommend as a basic book for the public administrator.Covers nearly two hundred years of public administrative theory and practice.Most selections are easy to read, and are set up both historically and functionally/catagorically. ... Read more

Product Description
Public policy is the business end of political science. It is where theory meets practice in the pursuit of the public good. Political scientists approach public policy in myriad ways. Some approach the policy process descriptively, asking how the need for public intervention comes to be perceived, a policy response formulated, enacted, implemented, and, all too often, subverted, perverted, altered, or abandoned. Others approach public policy more prescriptively, offering politically-informed suggestions for how normatively valued goals can and should be pursued, either through particular policies or through alternative processes for making policy. Some offer their advice from the Olympian heights of detached academic observers, others as 'engaged scholars' cum advocates, while still others seek to instill more reflective attitudes among policy practitioners themselves toward their own practices. The Oxford Handbook of Public Policy mines all these traditions, using an innovative structure that responds to the very latest scholarship. Its chapters touch upon institutional and historical sources and analytical methods, how policy is made, how it is evaluated and how it is constrained. In these ways, the Handbook shows how the combined wisdom of political science as a whole can be brought to bear on political attempts to improve the human condition. ... Read more

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What do public administrators and policy analysts have in common? Their work is undertaken within networks formed when different organizations align to accomplish some kind of policy function. To be effective, they must find ways to navigate complexity and generate effective results. Governance Networks in Public Administration and Public Policy describes a variety of trends and movements that have contributed to the complexity of these systems and the challenges that must be faced as a result.

Providing a theoretical and empirical foundation in governance networks, the book offers a conceptual framework for describing governance networks and provides a holistic way to conceive their construction. The text details the skills and functions of public administrators in the context of networked relationships and presents the theoretical foundations to analyze governance networks. It identifies the reforms and trends in governing that led to governance networks, explains the roles that various actors take on through networked relationships, highlights the challenges involved in the failure of networked activities, and illustrates how policy tools are mobilized by these relationships.

Be a part of building governance networks 2.0!

The author’s website contains support materials such as PowerPoint® presentations, writable case study templates, and other useful items related to building the field’s capacity to describe, evaluate, and design governance networks using the framework of this book. You can post case studies of governance networks, draw on other’s case study materials, and learn about research and educational opportunities.

Based on research and real-life experience, the book highlights the interplay between public actors and policy tools. The authors demystify this complex topic of governance networks and explore the practical applications of the conceptual framework. Practical and accessible, the book presents concepts in such a way that readers can engage in these ideas, apply them, and deepen their understanding of the dynamics unfolding around them.

Customer Reviews (1)

POTUS
Perhaps the best policy book ever!Inspirational and insightful. A constant companion and trusted reference of mine.I would never set policy without it.Would love to see a kindle version too.Thank you, sirs, may I have another? ... Read more

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Comparative Public Policy provides the first trulysystematic and comprehensive account of the transformation of thepost-war state in the advanced countries of the Western world.Theauthor generates new research findings which show how the economic,social and political changes of the post-war era have reshaped modernpublic policy across the OECD region.

Francis G. Castles examines the growth of big government and theemergence of the modern welfare state and identifies ways in which therole of the state has impacted on labor markets and such personalissues as home ownership, fertility and divorce. He explains why thetrajectory of policy transformation has varied from country tocountry, with immediate post-war policy laggards sometimes becomingleaders, and erstwhile policy pioneers on occasions stagnating.Thisinnovative book presents a wealth of background data and a huge rangeof new findings, covering 12 policy areas in 21 advancedindustrialized countries over a period of more than three decades.

Comparative Public Policy is essential reading for students andscholars who wish to understand the dynamics of contemporary socialand political development. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Serious confrontation: Good theory meets good data
This is the most satisfying book on the growth and retrenchment of the welfare state that I have read. Others suffer from such a surfeit of pre-conceptions that they blind themselves to important facts, or drown in the disorganized flood of information that rich countries produce, or suffer from the "blind men and the elephant problem" of looking at just a few countries. Castles's book, by contrast, confronts sometimes intractable data page by page, always asking seriously what the implications are for social theory, and always taking seriously the comparative task of asking what are the macro-social and macro-political sources of the variation he finds.

Perhaps the key result is a strong vindication of the Durkheimian school's argument that macro-level social and political institutions mediate the course of social evolution: Castles finds a great deal of variation among countries at the same level of development and of the same general type of property arrangements. The case for technological determinism is strongly undermined, as is the case for materialist theories more broadly. More importantly, he presses the data hard to find what does account for the differences he finds and finds some strong effects of recently rather neglected social actors. For example, the secularisation of European populations has turned many researchers attention in other directions, but Castles's results suggest that we ignore such religious factors as having institutionalised the Catholic church at our peril in understanding why some countries remain so inimical to women's labour force participation, despite pro-employment attitudes of their citizens.

A wealth of data are presented to inspire other researchers, and are brought together via a sturdy set of regression equations. Some of these are subject to caveats about the difficulties of inferring individual-level causality from aggregate-level data, but they form a valuable starting point from which multi-level analyses can grow.

As ever with Castles, the writing is clear and the organisation satisfying. All together a book worth buying as you will find your self dipping into it again and again. ... Read more

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This book examines the fundamental role of politics in funding our public schools and fills a conceptual imbalance in the current literature in school finance and educational policy. Unlike those who are primarily concerned about cost efficiency, Kenneth Wong specifies how resources are allocated for what purposes at different levels of the government. In contrast to those who focus on litigation as a way to reduce funding gaps, he underscores institutional stalemate and the lack of political will to act as important factors that affect legislative deadlock in school finance reform.

Wong defines how politics has sustained various types of "rules" that affect the allocation of resources at the federal, state, and local level. While these rules have been remarkably stable over the past twenty to thirty years, they have often worked at cross-purposes by fragmenting policy and constraining the education process at schools with the greatest needs.

Wong's examination is shaped by several questions. How do these rules come about? What role does politics play in retention of the rules? Do the federal, state, and local governments espouse different policies? In what ways do these policies operate at cross-purposes? How do they affect educational opportunities? Do the policies cohere in ways that promote better and more equitable student outcomes?

Wong concludes that the five types of entrenched rules for resource allocation are rooted in existing governance arrangements and seemingly impervious to partisan shifts, interest group pressures, and constitutional challenge. And because these rules foster policy fragmentation and embody initiatives out of step with the performance-based reform agenda of the 1990s, the outlook for positive change in public education is uncertain unless fairly radical approaches are employed.

Wong also analyzes four allocative reform models, two based on the assumption that existing political structures are unlikely to change and two that seek to empower actors at the school level. The two models for systemwide restructuring, aimed at intergovernmental coordination and/or integrated governance, would seek to clarify responsibilities for public education among federal, state, and local authorities--above all, integrating political and educational accountability. The other two models identified by Wong shift control from state and district to the schoool, one based on local leadership and the other based on market forces. In discussing the guiding principles of the four models, Wong takes care to identify both the potential and limitations of each.

Written with a broad policy audience in mind, Wong's book should appeal to professionals interested in the politics of educational reform and to teachers of courses dealing with educational policy and administration and intergovernmental relations.

This book is part of the Studies in Government and Public Policy series. ... Read more

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For courses on Public Policy, Public Policy-Making, and Administrative Decision making in departments of political science or public administration.   While much has been written on public policy theory, this collection of Readings is a unique attempt to survey the literature and provide an overview and critique of the many theories, models, and concepts of public policy.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent Foundation for Understanding Policy
This book is an excellent tool for policy students who want to understand and critically discuss the field of policy studies. Aside from the excerpts from the major authors in policy, the introduction and discussion sections of each chapter tie together how each model/framework/theory fits into the overall policy studies field. I used this book to help me prepare for the political science/policy studies section of my qualifying exams, and I was able to do quite well. While this book is not the end-all-be-all for policy, it leads you through the major movements and major authors in policy while providing a good foundation that will allow you to be able to synthesize and evaluate policy models.

The best anthology on public policy theories available
This is a very good anthology on public policy classics. You will find almost all important texts here--and in sufficient length to be useful and comprehendable. The introductory chapters by McCool are simply brilliant. Rewarding reading even if you are quite familiar with the field. Rarely is public policy theory explained in such a friendly, insightful and down-to-earth manner.

The tasteful selection of texts and the crystal-clear comments by McCool is what makes this anthology stand out. Choose this one instead of Theodoulou & Cahn "Public Policy: The Essential Readings", which is inferior in every way.

This fine anthology should however be supplemented with Paul Sabatier, ed. (1999) "Theories of the Policy Process" to be fully up-to-date. Get them both!

While it might seem strange to give five stars to an anthology, I think it is motivated in this case, given the quality of the selection and the well-writen editorial comments. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

AMAZING book
I know this may seem cheesy but I can honestly say that this book has changed many aspects of my life.It has changed the way I view public policy.It has changed the way I decide who to vote for.It has changed the way I handle business ventures.It has changed the way I view of government programs.Etc and so forth.I had the honor of taking a class from Professor Kearl at BYU and must say that the biggest travesty is that he has never created a video lecture series like other professors at that university.This man is brilliant and truly understands everything that he preaches both in his book and in his lectures.I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to understand basic economics, but like the other poster stated, "It's not light reading."

Great book
I am taking this course from the text's author with BYU Independent Study, and this is the main text we are using.Dr. Kearl has written a surprisingly readable (with concentration) economics textboook.He backs up everything he writes with examples, and the book is organized in aninteresting format: the first part of the book talks about mostly microeconomics and laissez-faire government policies, and the second part advocates governmental intervention in markets to prevent market problems.

A note of warning: this is NOT LIGHT READING.You have to be serious about studying economics.There are no pictures of dead economists; in fact, there are no pictures at all because this book is in black-and-white.However, there are lots of graphs, tables, and charts, which Dr. Kearl uses to explain economic principles.

Again: this is NOT a fluff textbook, but a good one. ... Read more

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Since public health seeks to protect the health of populations, it inevitably confronts a range of ethical challenges having to do primarily with the friction between individual freedoms and what might be perceived as governmental paternalism. This volume brings together twenty-five articles by leading thinkers in the field, writing on topics that concern both classic and novel problems.They open up new terrain in each area, including tobacco and drug control, infectious disease, environmental and occupational health, the effect of new genetics on the publics health, and the impact of social inequalities on patterns of morbidity and mortality. The volume editors offer a context for discussion with introductory essays for each of the books five sections. ... Read more

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When people make judgments and choices, especially when faced with uncertainty, they behave in a manner that seems complex and irrational.Cognitive psychologists have identified and organized these patterns of behavior into a descriptively accurate model of human judgments and choices called behavioral decision theory. Incorporating this theory's insights in public policy analysis will enhance our ability to design better policies and enable us to understand the limits of effective regulation. ... Read more

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This text gives students a framework for analyzing public policy choices. The unique "political economy" approach focuses on the institutions and market processes that contribute to the solving of public problems.

• Case Studies show students how the "political economy" approach is applied to real-world situations to yield concrete solutions
• Boxes draw students' attention to interesting policy issues.
• Two full chapters focus on the tools and techniques of policy analysis.

Customer Reviews (2)

text required for study
This text is one of three required for my study of Public Administration in the Masters level.It is easy to understand and an excellent text for understanding the sometimes confusing world of public policy.

Excellent Introduction to Policy Analysis
This is a very effective introductory text for the study of public policy.Rather than focussing exclusively on 'areas' of policy (e.g., agricultural policy, welfare policy, etc...), the authors develop the theoretical tools that allow the student to wrap his/her mind around the bigger issues.Students learn about how markets, governments and other mechanisms of collective action interact to help develop policy responses and the virtues and shortcomnings of each of these mechanisms.The book is easily digestible by undergraduates and is extremely clear, especially when explaining traditionally more complex ideas like social choice dilemmas.All in all, an outstanding text to learn about the study of public policy. ... Read more

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This short guide provides a concise and accessible overview of the entire policy cycle taking the reader through the various stages of agenda setting, policy formulation, decision making, policy implementation and policy evaluation.

Public officials at every level of government play a vital role in the development, adoption and implementation of government policies. Yet existing works focus only on senior politicians and public officials and, thus, fail to provide an insight into the work of the vast majority of other officials. This book provides an introduction to the key policy functions, the challenges they entail, and how the challenges may be addressed by public officials. Written from a comparative perspective, the authors include examples from a diverse range of countries at different stages of development, highlighting key principles and practices through which officials can effectively manage their policy processes and outcomes.

This important tool offers students of public policy and policy practitioners’ guidance on how to make, implement and evaluate public policies in ways that improve citizens’ lives.

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This practical book explores the basics of social policy and program analysis, including how to design new programs or evaluate and improve upon existing ones.

Social Policy and Social Programs, 4/e, provides criteria for judging the effectiveness of current programs and outlines methods for analyzing soical services such as counseling and therapeutic services, supportive assistance, and "hard" benefits like food stamps, cash, and housing vouchers. The text  is organized around two major aspects: social problem analysis and social policy and program analysis. It concentrates on the social proplems, policies, and programs that are the main concern of most future social workers - child welfare, health, poverty, and mental illness.

Customer Reviews (1)

Great Seller...really
Great seller, Shipped and arrived on time as described, doing business was a pleasure and I dont say this just because...I say it because you are a great person to buy from. ... Read more