Public policy : politics, analysis, and alternatives

Author(s)

Bibliographic Information

Public policy : politics, analysis, and alternatives

Michael E. Kraft, Scott R. Furlong

CQ Press, an imprint of SAGE publications, c2015

5th ed

  • : pbk

Available at  / 11 libraries

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Note

Includes bibliographical references (p. 503-515) and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

With the right information we can develop public policies that work better. All too often, public policy textbooks offer a basic grounding in the policy process without the benefit of integrating the use of policy analysis. Since the first edition of Public Policy: Politics, Analysis, and Alternatives, Michael Kraft and Scott Furlong have taken a different tack. They want students to understand how and why policy analysis is used to assess policy alternatives-not only to question the assumptions of policy analysts, but also to recognize how analysis is used in support of political arguments. To encourage critical and creative thinking on issues ranging from the federal deficit to health care reform to climate change, the authors introduce and fully integrate an evaluative approach to policy. The authors begin the fifth edition of Public Policy with a concise review of institutions, policy actors, and major theoretical models. Then, they discuss the nature of policy analysis and its practice and show students how to employ evaluative criteria in six substantive policy areas. The text arms students with the analytic tools they need to understand the motivations of policy actors-both within and outside of government-and to influence a complex, yet comprehensible, policy agenda.

Table of Contents

PART I: THE STUDY OF PUBLIC POLICY Chapter 1: PUBLIC POLICY AND POLITICS What Is Public Policy? Defining Basic Concepts Why Study Public Policy? The Contexts of Public Policy The Reasons for Government Involvement The Practice of Policy Analysis Chapter 2: 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 Chapter 3: UNDERSTANDING PUBLIC POLICYMAKING Theories of Politics and Public Policy The Policy Process Model Instruments of Public Policy Policy Typologies Part II: ANALYZING PUBLIC POLICY Chapter 4: 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? Chapter 5: PUBLIC PROBLEMS AND POLICY ALTERNATIVES Problem Analysis How to Find Information Constructing Alternatives Thinking Creatively about Policy Action Chapter 6: 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 PART III: ISSUES AND CONTROVERSIES IN PUBLIC POLICY Chapter 7: 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 Economic Issues and Challenges Focused Discussion: How to Address the Budgetary Shortfall Chapter 8: HEALTH CARE POLICY Background Major Government Health Care Programs Other Health Care Policy Issues Rising Health Care Costs Managed Care Organizations Reducing Health Care Costs Quality of Care Focused Discussion: Should There Be Greater Emphasis on Preventive Health Care? Chapter 9: WELFARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY POLICY Background Social Security Welfare Chapter 10: EDUCATION POLICY Background Problems Facing Education Education Policy Reforms Higher Education Issues Focused Discussion: Higher Education Affordability, Cost, and Value Chapter 11: ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY POLICY Background The Evolution of Environmental and Energy Policy From Consensus to Conflict in Environmental Policy Major Federal Environmental Policies Energy Policy Focused Discussion: Climate Change and Energy Policy Alternatives Chapter 12: FOREIGN POLICY AND HOMELAND SECURITY Background and Policy Evolution Selected Issues in Homeland Security Focused Discussion: Civil Liberties in an Age of Terrorism PART IV: CONCLUSIONS Chapter 13: POLITICS, ANALYSIS, AND POLICY CHOICE Policy Analysis, Citizen Participation, and Change Public Policies and Their Impacts Policy Analysis and Policy Choices Citizen Participation in Decision Making

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