The Public Policy Theory Primer

✍ Scribed by Kevin B. Smith, Christopher Larimer

• Year: 2009
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 277
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Public policy has developed into a broad and interdisciplinary area of study. Research in the field tends to reflect this wide-ranging nature, with scholarly activity focusing on policy process, policy design, program evaluation, specific policy issues, and research classified simply as “policy studies.” Yet, for those teaching and studying in the field, this disjointedness can be confusing and cumbersome.   This text provides a reasoned and structured framework for the field of public policy. Authors Kevin B. Smith and Christopher W. Larimer not only discuss several major theories but also offer a consistent and coherent framework for uniting the field. This organized and comprehensive approach addresses core questions and concepts, major theoretical frameworks, primary methodological approaches, and key controversies and debates. The Public Policy Theory Primer is an indispensable text for the systematic study of public policy.

✦ Table of Contents

081334381X......Page 1
Contents......Page 6
Preface......Page 8
1. Public Policy as a Concept and a Field (or Fields) of Study......Page 10
2. Does Politics Cause Policy? Does Policy Cause Politics?......Page 36
3. Who Makes Decisions? How Do They Make Decisions? Actors and Institutions......Page 58
4. Where Does Policy Come from? The Policy Process......Page 84
5. What Should We Do? The Field of Policy Analysis......Page 110
6. What Have We Done? Impact Analysis and Program Evaluation......Page 138
7. How Does It Work? Policy Implementation......Page 164
8. Whose Values? Policy Design......Page 190
9. New Directions in Policy Research......Page 218
10. Do the Policy Sciences Exist?......Page 240
References......Page 258