Public Policy: Preferences and Outcomes

Built on the premise that all public policy is ultimately grounded in the philosophy of governance, Christopher A. Simon's second edition continues to approach policy by combining normative and empirical perspectives. This deeply revised second edition continues to expose students to the basis of preferences, policy-making processes, policy history, and current policy decisions and outcomes. Chapters conclude with a case studies engaging students in the application of their theoretical knowledge to the real world, and encouraging them to be informed and active citizens. Key Features: Alternate tables of content are included to provide professors and students with flexible, easy-to-implement options for approaching and assigning public policy. Case studies provide real-world examples that concretely illustrate theoretical concepts. End-of-Chapter questions reinforce key concepts and encourage students to think critically about the chapter topics. Each chapter ends with a two-part summary that offers a review of the major chapter concepts ("Lessons Learned") and puts them in context ("The Big Picture").

Table of Contents:
PART I  Introduction to Public Policy  Chapter 1  Policy and Visions of Governance  Chapter Overview  A Working Definition of Public Policy  Classical Liberalism  Modern Liberalism and Public Policy  The Nature of Liberalism in the United States  Communitarianism: Another Way of Viewing Society and Policy  Lessons Learned  Key Terms Questions for Study  Endnotes  Bibliography  Chapter 2  Theories of Public Policy: How Choices Are Made  Chapter Overview  The Importance of Science in Studying Public Policy  The Rational-Comprehensive Model  Incrementalism  Public Choice  Group Theory  Systems Theory  Institutionalism  Elite Theory  Game Theory  Neo-Institutionalism  Lessons Learned  Key Terms  Questions for Study  Endnotes  Bibliography  Chapter 3  Values and Public Policy  Chapter Overview  Regime Values  Civic Engagement, Social Capital, and Values  Bases of Individual Values  Economics and Societal Value Changes  How Values Have and Continue to Change  Lessons Learned  Key Terms  Questions for Study  Endnotes  Bibliography  Chapter 4  Policy Analysis  Chapter Overview  Economics  Rise of Policy Sciences  Growth of Public Policy  Central Questions for Public Policy Analysis  Tools for Policy Analysis  Outcomes of Public Policy Analysis  Ethics and Policy Analysis  Lessons Learned  Key Terms  Questions for Study  Endnotes  Bibliography  Part II Policy Process  Chapter 5  Agenda Setting  Chapter Overview  How Does Agenda Setting Work?  The President as Agenda Setter  Congress and the Policy Agenda  Congressional-Executive Relations and Agenda Setting  The Courts and the Policy Agenda  Pressure Groups and Agenda Setting  Bureaucracy and Agenda Setting  Media and Agenda Setting  Elections and the Policy Agenda  Cultural Change and Agenda Setting  Biases in Political Participation and Agenda Setting  Explaining Agenda Setting  Lessons Learned  Key Terms  Questions for Study  Endnotes  Bibliography  Chapter 6  Policy Formulation  Chapter Overview  How Is Policy Formulated?  Major Actors in Policy Formulation  Demographic Changes and Policy Formulation  Explaining Policy Formulation  Lessons Learned  Key Terms  Questions for Study  Endnotes  Bibliography  Chapter 7  Policy Implementation  Chapter Overview  Theoretical Model of Policy Implementation  Issues Surrounding Implementation  Major Participants in Policy Implementation  Explaining Policy Implementation  Lessons Learned  Key Terms  Questions for Study  Endnotes  Bibliography  Chapter 8  Policy Evaluation  Chapter Overview  Skills of a Good Policy Evaluator  General Purposes of Evaluation  Internal Versus External Evaluation  Types of Evaluations  Lessons Learned  Key Terms Q  uestions for Study  Endnote  Bibliography  Chapter 9  Policy Termination  Chapter Overview  Definition of Termination  Key Actors in Termination  Reasons for Termination  Roadblocks to Termination  Termination: When it a Good Time?  A Model of Policy Termination  Case Study  Explaining Policy Termination  Lessons Learned  Key Terms  Questions for Study  Endnotes  Bibliography  Chapter 10  Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations (IGR)  Chapter Overview  Arguments in Favor of Federalism  Dual Federalism Model  Cooperative Federalism  Nation-Centered Federalism  Clintonian Federalism and Beyond  Intergovernmental Relations  Intergovernmental Collaborative Policy-Making  Fiscal Federalism  Lessons Learned  Key Terms  Questions for Study  Endnotes  Bibliography  Part III Major Public Policies  Chapter 11  Defense Policy  Chapter Overview  The Defense Policy Structure  Major Participants in Defense Policy  Defense Policy During the Cold War  Nuclear Arms Race  Nuclear Weapons Treaties  Post--Cold War Era  Post--Post Cold War Era and the War on Terrorism  Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) 2006  Ballistic Missile Defense  Homeland Security  Explaining Defense Policy  Lessons Learned  Key Terms  Questions for Study  Endnotes  Bibliography  Case Study  Chapter 12  Public Health Policy  Chapter Overview  Major Actors in Public Health Policy  Department of Health and Human Services  Medicare: How it Works  Medicaid  State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)MM  FFFood and Drug Administration (FDA)  Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)  Indian Health Service (IHS)  National Institutes of Health (NIH)  Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)  Explaining Public Health Policy  Lessons Learned  Key Terms  Questions for Study  Endnotes  Bibliography  Group Project  Chapter 13  General Social Policy  Chapter Overview  Scope of Social Policy  Social Security Administration  U.S. Department of Agriculture:  Food and Nutrition  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development  U.S. Department of Labor: Unemployment Compensation  Explaining General Social Policy  Lessons Learned  Key Terms  Questions for Study  Endnotes  Bibliography  Case Study  Chapter 14  Education Policy  Chapter Overview  Major Participants in Education Policy  Education Policy Reform Proposals  Public Policy and Educational Equality  Explaining Education Policy  Lessons Learned  Key Terms  Questions for Study  Endnotes  Bibliography  Case Study  Chapter 15  Criminal Justice Policy  Chapter Overview  Major Participants  Types of Crime  Causes of Crime  Crimes and Criminal Procedure  Perspectives on Punishment  Incarceration Policy and Management  Hot Topic Crimes in the Twenty-First Century  Contemporary Policing Techniques and Issues  Explaining Criminal Justice Policy  Lessons Learned  Key Terms  Questions for Study  Endnotes  Bibliography  Case Study  Chapter 16  Green Policy  Chapter Overview  The Commons  Key Actors in Green Policy  Environmental Protection Agency  Federal Environmental Regulations  Resource Consumption  Water Politics and Policy  Renewable Energy: Protecting the Environment and Reducing Harmful Extractions  Explaining Environmental Policy  Lessons Learned  Key Terms  Questions for Study  Endnotes  Bibliography  Case Study  Chapter 17  Cost of Policy  Chapter Overview  A Definition of Budgeting  Explaining the Size of the National Budget  Budget Cycle  A Bit About National Government Public Finance  Revenue Streams  Major Participants and Influences  Budget Theory  Politics of Entitlement  The Budget and Implications for Policy  Explaining Public Budgeting  Lessons Learned  Key Terms  Questions for Study  Endnote  Bibliography  Group Project  Conclusion  Future of Public Policy  Chapter Overview  Commodification/Decommodification  Technology and the Future of Policy  Values and the Future of Policy  Conclusion  Bibliography

About the Author :
Christopher A. Simon is Professor of Political Science and a former Director of the MPA Program at The University of Utah. He conducts research in alternative energy policy; civic community and volunteerism; education policy; criminal justice policy; Homeland Security policy; land use policy; public administration; and military sociology.