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Provides a consistent and coherent framework for uniting the field of public policy. The authors offer a comprehensive overview of the core questions and concepts, major theoretical frameworks, primary methodological approaches, and key controversies and debates in each subfield of policy studies from the policy process and policy analysis.
List of contents
Preface
List of Illustrations
1. Public Policy as a Concept and a Field (or Fields) of Study
2. Does Politics Cause Policy? Does Policy Cause Politics?
3. Who Makes Decisions? How Do They Make Decisions? Actors and Institutions
4. Whose Values? Policy Design
5. Where Does Policy Come From? The Policy Process
6. What Should We Do? The Field of Policy Analysis
7. What Have We Done? Impact Analysis and Program Evaluation
8. How Does it Work? Policy Implementation
9. New Directions in Policy Research
10. Do the Policy Sciences Exist?
Appendix: Questions for Discussion or Comprehensive Exam Prep
References
Index
About the author
Kevin B. Smith is Professor of Political Science at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.
Christopher W. Larimer is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Northern Iowa.
Summary
Provides a consistent and coherent framework for uniting the field of public policy. The authors offer a comprehensive overview of the core questions and concepts, major theoretical frameworks, primary methodological approaches, and key controversies and debates in each subfield of policy studies from the policy process and policy analysis.
Additional text
Praise for Previous Editions
"The Public Policy Theory Primer will give students a '30,000 foot view' of the field of policy studies, and provide the necessary context and overview to process the wide variety of perspectives and approaches. This is the much-needed missing piece that will allow the next generation of policy scholars to move the field forward." – Robert Wood, University of North Dakota
"Much more than a primer, this text recognizes the changing dynamics of policy science, emphasizing the latest research in implementation studies. Perfect for graduate seminars and students studying for comprehensive examinations, just about everything you need to know about the field of policy science is in this book." – Jacqueline Vaughn, Northern Arizona University"Smith and Larimer’s tour de force provides both summary and serious critique of the field of policy studies. It will be the standard reference for years to come." -- Bryan D. Jones, University of Texas at Austin
