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.