Public Policy

by Kraft, Michael E.

• ISBN13: 9780872899711
• ISBN10: 0872899713
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-07-15
• Publisher: Cq Pr

Summary

Public policy textbooks need to give students a thorough explanation of the policy process, but why do so many relegate policy analysis to a single, final chapter¿or not cover it at all? In the third edition of their innovative text, Kraft and Furlong take a decidedly different tack. They introduce and integrate an evaluative approach to policy throughout their text, encouraging critical and creative thinking on issues ranging from economic policy and the financial bailout to homeland security and natural disasters. Public Policy starts with the basics and concisely reviews institutions, policy actors, and major theoretical models. The authors then discuss the nature of policy analysis and its practice, and show students how to employ evaluative criteria in six substantive policy areas. At its core, Public Policy guides students through policy alternatives, arming them with analytic tools for understanding how the motivations of policy actors¿both within and outside of government¿influence a complex, yet comprehensible, policy agenda. Professors will appreciate its authoritative, balanced approach, and its accessibility will engage students and keep them reading.

Table of Contents

The Study of Public Policy

Public Policy and Politics

What Is Public Policy?

Defining Basic Concepts

The Contexts of Public Policy

The Reasons for Government Involvement

Why Study Public Policy?

The Practice of Policy Analysis

Government Institutions and Policy Actors

Growth of Government

Government Institutions and Policy Capacity

Federalism

Separation of Powers

Informal Policy Actors and Policy Capacity

Improving Policy Capacity

Understanding the Politics of Public Policy

Theories of Politics and Public Policy

The Policy Process

Model Instruments of Public Policy

Policy Typologies

Analyzing Public Policy

Policy Analysis: An Introduction

The Nature of Policy Analysis

Steps in the Policy Analysis Process

Types of Policy Analysis

What Kind of Analysis Is Needed?

Public Problems and Policy Alternatives

Problem Analysis

How to Find Information

Constructing Alternatives

Creative Thinking about Policy Action

Assessing Policy Alternatives

Evaluative Criteria for Judging Policy Proposals

Using the Methods of Policy Analysis

Economic Approaches

Decision Making and Impacts

Political and Institutional Approaches

Ethical Analysis

Issues and Controversies in Public Policy

Economic and Budgetary Policy

Background

Goals of Economic Policy

Tools of Economic Policy

The Budget Process and Its Effect on Economic Policy

Economic Policy: Successes and Failures

Future Economic Issues and Challenges

Focused Discussion: How to Address the Budgetary Shortfall

Health Care Policy

Background

Major Government Health Care Programs

Rising Health Care Costs

Managed Care Organizations

Reducing Health Care Costs: Beyond HMOs

Quality of Care

Focused Discussion: Should There Be Greater Emphasis on Preventative Health Care?

Welfare and Social Security Policy

Background

Social Security

Welfare

Focused Discussion: We've Reformed Welfare, Now What? Addressing Poverty

Education Policy

Background

Problems Facing Education

Higher Education Issues

Education Policy Reforms

Focused Discussion: School Testing and Educational Quality

Environmental and Energy Policy

Background

The Evolution of Environmental and Energy Policy

From Consensus to Conflict in Environmental Policy

Major Federal Environmental Policies

Energy Policies

Focused Discussion: Climate Change and Energy Policy Alternatives

Foreign Policy and Homeland Security

Background and Policy Evaluation

Selected Issues in Homeland Security

Focused Discussion: Civil Liberties in an Age of Terrorism

Conclusions

Politics, Analysis, and Policy Choice

Public Policies and Their Impacts

Policy Analysis and Policy Choices

Citizen Participation in Decision Making

Conclusions

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