Inheritance Before Choice In Public Policy

Although politicians promise innovation and change when they run for office, once elected they face inherited commitments to programs initiated by their predecessors, legacies that severely limit their freedom of choice. In this book, the authors examine the ways in which decisions made by past generations of administrators control policy-making in the present.

‘Policy work’ is increasingly conducted by public managers at different levels of seniority, and in a variety of settings. This significant collection of readings focuses on the discussion of how policy work happens, whether that involves bringing a policy-making process to fruition or the implementation of policy. The ideas included here draw on many different academic disciplines including economics, political science, social policy, international relations, organizational behaviour and psychology. The book is divided into four key sections, each with an introduction by the editors, covering: understanding policy processes governance contexts instruments and discourses leadership in policy work. This key text equips the reader with the fundamental knowledge and the essential ability required to critically analyze the key theoretical, conceptual and operational approaches to the development and management of public policy. Containing timeless papers that are the building blocks of understanding public policy, this important volume allows the reader to analyze new issues in appropriate contexts and one’s own setting.

The fully revised second edition of this textbook offers a comprehensive introduction to theories of public policy and policymaking. The policy process is complex: it contains hundreds of people and organisations from various levels and types of government, from agencies, quasi- and non-governmental organisations, interest groups and the private and voluntary sectors. This book sets out the major concepts and theories that are vital for making sense of the complexity of public policy, and explores how to combine their insights when seeking to explain the policy process. While a wide range of topics are covered – from multi-level governance and punctuated equilibrium theory to 'Multiple Streams' analysis and feminist institutionalism – this engaging text draws out the common themes among the variety of studies considered and tackles three key questions: what is the story of each theory (or multiple theories); what does policy theory tell us about issues like 'evidence based policymaking'; and how 'universal' are policy theories designed in the Global North? This book is the perfect companion for undergraduate and postgraduate students studying public policy, whether focussed on theory, analysis or the policy process, and it is essential reading for all those on MPP or MPM programmes. New to this Edition: - New sections on power, feminist institutionalism, the institutional analysis and development framework, the narrative policy framework, social construction and policy design - A consideration of policy studies in relation to the Global South in an updated concluding chapter - More coverage of policy formulation and tools, the psychology of policymaking and complexity theory - Engaging discussions of punctuated equilibrium, the advocacy coalition framework and multiple streams analysis

The Public Policy Process is essential reading for anyone trying to understand the process by which public policy is made. Explaining clearly the importance of the relationship between theoretical and practical aspects of policymaking, the book gives a thorough overview of the people and organisations involved in the process. Fully revised and updated for an eighth edition, The Public Policy Process provides: Clear exploration, using many illustrations, of how policy is made and implemented; Examines challenges to effective policy making in critical areas – such as inequality and climate change – including the influence of powerful interests and the Covid-19 pandemic; New material on unequal democracies, interest groups influence, behavioural policy analysis, global policies and evidence-based decision making; Additional European and comparative international examples. This text is essential reading for students of public policy, public administration and management, as well as more broadly highly relevant to related courses in health and nursing, social welfare, environment, development and local government.

More and more policy issues involve issues that are explicitly values-based, yet public policy analysis tends to skirt around the question of values. Public Policy Values overcomes this reluctance by showing how public policies enable values-choices to be made, often without seeming to do so.

This work provides a comprehensive review of all the key public policy sectors in contemporary British politics. Each chapter is written by a leading authority in their field and includes case studies, discussion questions and further reading.