The Public Policy Primer: Managing the Policy Process

by Xun Wu, M. Ramesh, Michael Howlett

Fully revised for a second edition, this essential guide provides a concise and accessible overview of the public policy agenda-setting, policy formulation, decision-making, implementation, and evaluation.

The book provides an introduction to the key policy functions, the challenges they entail, and how the challenges may be addressed by policy actors. Written from a comparative perspective, the authors include examples from a diverse range of countries at different stages of development, highlighting key principles and practices through which policy actors can effectively manage their policy processes and outcomes.

Key features of the second



fully updated and revised content throughout;

expanded references and further reading;

more guidance towards understanding the key concepts in public policy. This important tool offers students of public policy and policy practitioners guidance on how to make, implement, and evaluate public policies in ways that improve citizens' lives.

Genres: Public Policy

166 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2010

Reviews

[Earl Pike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tremendous overview of the challenges that policymaking faces. The book is well organized and easy to follow. Though highly academic, the text is very approachable. The text is, indeed, a terrific primer in understanding the complexities of policy development and the road to frequent failure. In the highly politicized world we live in, this is excellent to help understand the emptiness of political pageantry.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

That's right- grad school has begun. So too will I begin to move away from reading for enjoyment to reading for necessity- first on the docket, The Public Policy Primer. It is an excellent introduction to the study and analysis of the policy process, from agenda setting to policy evaluation and everything in between

[Robin Bittick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent overview of U.S. Public Policy with a focus on the challenges policymakers face, and then offers strategies for addressing such challenges. This is a short book, and is an excellent choice for a beginning public policy class, or for a quick introduction to public policy at the beginning of a graduate class. I especially liked the emphasis on action, which means an emphasis on the public administration aspects of public policy.

[Keith]

Succint and detailed

Great book on the stages of the policy process. A bit on the short side, but there is an extensive bibliography at the end of each chapter. The explanations are common sense and easy to follow, and the author provides excellent examples to describe the various stages. There is also advice for policy managers and those involved in the processes and offers important advice on what to do (and not to do). Highly recommend for those who are studying public administration/policy.

[Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short. Sweet. Too the Point = Best text book ever. Used headings and italics for the important information and only then elaborated afterwords.

Great book to understand the policy process, the challenges in each step, key actors, and some tips for the policy-maker to-be.