Kraft, Public Policy - With the right information we can develop public policies that work better. 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 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 health care to climate change, the authors introduce and fully integrate an evaluative approach to policy. From a concise review of institutions, policy actors, and major theoretical models to discussion of the nature of policy analysis and its practice, the Kraft and Furlong show students how to employ evaluative criteria in six substantive policy areas. Students come away with the analytic tools they need to understand that the motivations of policy actors - both within and outside of government - influence a complex, yet comprehensible, policy agenda.
Peters, American Public Policy provides a comprehensive yet accessible overview of the landscape of public policy. This foundational text takes students through the governmental systems and core theories of policymaking before turning to in-depth exploration of key policy areas and tools of policy analysis. Important additions to this Tenth Edition include expanded discussions of policy instruments, the challenges for public policymakers presented by the continuing gridlock in Washington, the Affordable Care Act, higher education funding, reproductive rights, and gay rights. New coverage of fracking controversies, race and racial profiling, and the legalization of marijuana keeps students up to date with recent policy debates and issues.