The Public Policy Theory Primer

✍ Scribed by Christopher W. Larimer, Kevin B. Smith

• Publisher: Westview Press
• Year: 2017
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 287
• Edition: 3
• Category: Library

✦ Table of Contents

Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Preface
List of Illustrations
Chapter 1: Public Policy as a Concept and a Field (or Fields) of Study
Defining Public Policy
Defining the Field(s) of Public Policy Studies
The Policy Sciences: A Very Short History of the Field of Policy Studies
The Fracturing of the Policy Sciences
Why Build When You Can Beg, Borrow, and Steal?
Conclusion
Notes
Chapter 2: Does Politics Cause Policy? Does Policy Cause Politics?
Good Policy Theory
Policy Stages: A First Attempt at Policy Theory
Stages Model: Descriptive or Predictive?
Another “Theory” of Public Policy: Policy Typologies
Typologies as Non–Mutually Exclusive Categories
Conclusion: Where Do We Go from Here?
Notes
Chapter 3: Who Makes Decisions? How Do They Make Decisions? Actors and Institutions
Bounded Rationality and Incrementalism
Incrementalism in Practice
Public Choice and the Tiebout Model
The Tiebout Model: Citizens as Efficient Policymakers?
Institutional Rational Choice
Conclusion
Notes
Chapter 4: Whose Values? Policy Design
Objective Policy Design?
The “Paradox” of Policy Design
Social Constructions and Target Populations
“Democratic” Values and Policy Design
Narrative Policy Framework
Testing Policy Design Theories?
Conclusion
Notes
Chapter 5: Where Does Policy Come From? The Policy Process
Process and Power
Policy Subsystems and Issue Networks
Advocacy Coalitions: Theory or Framework?
Punctuated Equilibrium: A Descriptive Framework for Policy Change
Assessing the Value of PET
Garbage Cans and Policy Windows: A Multiple Streams Approach to Policy Change
A Theory of Policy Change?
Conclusion
Notes
Chapter 6: What Should We Do? The Field of Policy Analysis
The Rationalist Approach
The Post-Positivist Approach
Post-Positivist Methods
An Emerging Middle Ground?
Conclusion
Notes
Chapter 7: What Have We Done? Impact Analysis and Program Evaluation
Impact Analysis and Program Evaluation
The Core Elements of Impact Analysis
The Logic and Theory of Impact Analysis
Program Theory
Research Design in Impact Analysis
Conclusion
Notes
Chapter 8: How Does It Work? Policy Implementation
Three Generations of Implementation Studies
First-Generation Implementation Studies: Understanding Implementation Is Important
Second-Generation Studies: Understanding Implementation Is Complex
Third-Generation Studies: Understanding Implementation Is . . . Impossible?
A Fourth Generation?
Conclusion
Chapter 9: New Directions in Policy Research
Policy Change, Irrationality, and Social Utility
Policy (All) Decision Making Is Emotional
An Evolutionary Approach to Policy Science
Putting It All Together
An Application to Criminal Justice Policy
Conclusion: Answering the Call for Better Theory and Better Methodology
Notes
Chapter 10: Do the Policy Sciences Exist?
The Theoretical Contributions of Policy Studies
Key Problems
Conclusion: Whither Policy Studies?
Notes
Appendix: Questions for Discussion or Comprehensive Exam Prep
References
Index

✦ Subjects

Policy Sciences, Public Policy, Political Planning, Political Science, Public Affairs, Public Administration