Public Policy: Politics, Analysis, and Alternatives, 4th Editon

All too often, public policy textbooks offer a basic grounding in the policy process without the benefit of integrating the use of policy analysis. Kraft and Furlong, since their first edition, take 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 to recognize how analysis is used in support of political arguments. To encourage critical and creative thinking on issues ranging from the financial bailout to rising gas prices to natural disasters, the authors introduce and fully integrate an evaluative approach to policy.

Public Policy starts with a concise review of institutions, policy actors, and major theoretical models. The authors then discuss the nature of policy analysis and its practice, and show students how to employ evaluative criteria in six substantive policy areas. Public Policy arms students with analytic tools they need to understand the motivations of policy actors—both within and outside of government—influence a complex, yet comprehensible, policy agenda.

Enhancements to the 4th edition:

• All chapters have been comprehensively updated to include recent events, issues, and policy debates including the conduct of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the use of private contractors for military support and operations, the rising cost of gasoline and disputes over energy policy and climate change, the controversy over immigration policy, requirements for financial regulation, heightened concerns over economic and social inequality, and the clash over reforming taxes and entitlement programs, as well as dealing with the federal deficit and national debt.
• New and updated “working with sources” and “steps to analysis” features help students investigate sources of information and apply evaluative criteria.
• New and updated end-of chapter discussion questions, suggested readings, and web sites.

Issues for Debate in American Public Policy: Selections from CQ Researcher, 13th Edition

Always up-to-date on the latest controversies and concerns, the new edition of Issues for Debate covers sixteen hot topics, written by the award-winning reporters of CQ Researcher. Each selection explores who the key players are, what’s at stake, and explains why recognizing past and current developments is so crucial to the future. Essays include a pro/con box, chronology, bibliography, photos, charts, graphs, and maps.

Public Policy, 4th Edition

Enhancements to the 4th edition:

• All chapters have been comprehensively updated to include recent events, issues, and policy debates including the conduct of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the use of private contractors for military support and operations, the rising cost of gasoline and disputes over energy policy and climate change, the controversy over immigration policy, requirements for financial regulation, heightened concerns over economic and social inequality, and the clash over reforming taxes and entitlement programs, as well as dealing with the federal deficit and national debt.
• New and updated “working with sources” and “steps to analysis” features help students investigate sources of information and apply evaluative criteria.
• New and updated end-of chapter discussion questions, suggested readings, and web sites.

Issues for Debate in American Public Policy, 13th Edition

16 all-new case studies gathered from theCQ Researcher bring this 13th edition up to date.

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Michael E. Kraft is professor of political science and public affairs and Herbert Fisk Johnson Professor of Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay. He is the author of, among other works, Environmental Policy and Politics, 4th ed. (2006), and the coeditor of Environmental Policy: New Directions for the 21st Century, 6th ed. (2006) and Technology and Politics (1988), with Norman J. Vig; Public Reactions to Nuclear Waste (1993), with Riley E. Dunlap and Eugene A. Rosa; and Toward Sustainable Communities: Transition and Transformations in Environmental Policy (1999), with Daniel A. Mazmanian. He has taught courses in environmental policy and politics, Congress, and public policy analysis for over thirty years.

Scott R. Furlong is professor of political science and public affairs at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay. His areas of expertise are regulatory policy and interest group participation in the executive branch. Furlong has published articles in a number of journals including Public Administration Review, The Journal of Public Administration, Research and Theory, Administrative Studies Quarterly and Policy Studies Journal. He has been teaching the public policy course for over twelve years.