Public policy: a new introduction

A comprehensive introduction to public policy and the policy cycle, the fully revised second edition of this popular textbook offers a practical guide to the topic while remaining underpinned by cutting-edge research. Bringing together analysis of classic works alongside the most recent developments in the field, this book is guided by the following three crucial questions: What is public policy? Who participates in making and putting public policy in practice as well as in assessing its success? And when and how does public policy change over time? In answering these questions, the book covers everything from the central institutions and actors of policy-making to implementation, evaluation and governance. Drawing on examples from across the world, the new edition expands on themes that were previously covered only marginally, including the underexplored connection between public policy and political economy, as well as placing more emphasis on climate change and practical advice on doing policy analysis. For undergraduate or postgraduate students studying on courses focussed on public policy or the policy cycle or process, this textbook is the essential guide to the subject. The book is also suited for those studying public policy in the context of politics or public management and administration.

Intro -- List of Boxes -- Foreword to the Second Edition -- 1: Introduction -- WHAT IS A PUBLIC POLICY? -- Polity, Politics and Policy -- Elements of a Public Policy -- Differences in Scope: Sectors, Targets and Instruments -- ANALYTICAL PERSPECTIVES ON THE POLICY-MAKING PROCESS -- Basic Theoretical Perspectives on Public Policies: Rational Process Design, Muddling Through or Just Chance? -- Stages of the Policy Process -- OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR POLICY-MAKING -- STUDYING PUBLIC POLICY: THE APPROACH AND STRUCTURE OF THIS BOOK -- Basic Analytical Tools, Concepts and Theories -- Stages of the Policy Process -- Cross-Cutting Themes -- 2: The Nature of Public Policies -- INTRODUCTION -- TYPOLOGIES OF PUBLIC POLICIES -- Classification by Implications for Politics -- Lowi's Policy Typology -- Wilson's Policy Typology -- Classification by Governance Principles and Instruments -- Nodality -- Authority -- Treasure -- Organization -- Alternative Schemes -- POLICY DIMENSIONS -- Policy Dimensions in the Sequence of the Policy Cycle -- Policy Content Dimensions -- POLICY STYLES -- CONCLUSIONS -- Further reading -- 3: The Context for Policy-Making: Central Institutions and Actors -- INTRODUCTION -- NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS: DEFINING THE RULES OF THE POLITICAL GAME -- Constitutions and Constitutional Courts -- Division of Powers -- Electoral Institutions and Party Systems -- INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS: GLOBAL PUBLIC POLICY -- The United Nations System -- The World Trade Organization -- KEY ACTORS -- Public Actors -- The Executive -- The Legislature -- The Judiciary -- The Bureaucracy -- Political Parties -- Private Actors -- Interest Groups -- Experts -- CONCLUSIONS -- Further reading -- 4: Theoretical Approaches to Policy-Making -- INTRODUCTION -- STRUCTURE-BASED MODELS -- The Cleavage Approach -- Varieties of Capitalism -- INSTITUTION-BASED MODELS.

A comprehensive introduction to public policy and the policy cycle, the fully revised second edition of this popular textbook offers a practical guide to the topic while remaining underpinned by cutting-edge research. Bringing together analysis of classic works alongside the most recent developments in the field, this book is guided by the following three crucial questions: What is public policy? Who participates in making and putting public policy in practice as well as in assessing its success? And when and how does public policy change over time? In answering these questions, the book covers everything from the central institutions and actors of policy-making to implementation, evaluation and governance. Drawing on examples from across the world, the new edition expands on themes that were previously covered only marginally, including the underexplored connection between public policy and political economy, as well as placing more emphasis on climate change and practical advice on doing policy analysis. For undergraduate or postgraduate students studying on courses focussed on public policy or the policy cycle or process, this textbook is the essential guide to the subject. The book is also suited for those studying public policy in the context of politics or public management and administration. --

A major new introduction to the theories and methods of public policy analysis and the changing nature of the policy process. Comprehensive, up-to-date and truly international in scope, it provides accessible yet sophisticated coverage of the field taking full account of global and multilevel dimensions