Contemporary Policy Analysis

A groundbreaking interpretation of the field, Contemporary Policy Analysis offers a state-of-the art look at what policy analysts do and how they can make the world a better place. The book is an indispensable resource for experienced policy analysts and an ideal core text for upper-level undergraduate and first-year graduate courses in policy analysis. Contemporary Policy Analysis works from a project orientation, providing a thorough and nontechnical overview of the key concepts and analytical strategies employed by policy analysts. Opening with coverage of what policy analysts do, what governments do, and government policy objectives, the first section of the book then discusses how to manage policy projects, present policy advice, and perform ethical policy analysis. The second section presents a set of core analytical strategies, featuring chapters on the analysis of markets, market failure, government failure, comparative institutional analysis, cost-benefit analysis, implementation analysis, and--unique to this survey--gender analysis and race analysis. Each of these strategy chapters includes a step-by-step guide to performing the analysis, incorporating an example from the policy literature that follows the steps and shows how the strategy can illuminate current policy issues. In addition, the chapters are enhanced by exercises and suggestions for class projects and policy research seminars.

“"Contemporary Policy Analysis should be especially useful to faculty seeking a practice-oriented approach to policy analysis that integrates analytical, strategic, and management concerns."--David A. Rochefort, Northeastern University "There is no current text that provides detailed treatment of analytic tools without requiring a background in microeconomics. I am enthusiastic about the book's broad perspective, which addresses criteria and impacts other than economic efficiency. The writing is clear and concise, and I like the learning activities at the end of each chapter."--Megan Mullin, Temple University "The author has done a fantastic job achieving the goals outlined in the preface. I am very much looking forward to adopting this book for my policy analysis course."--Dana Lee Baker, Washington State University "Following on his excellent earlier work in People Skills for Policy Analysts, Mintrom continues to provide state-of-the-art knowledge of immediate use to professional policy analysts working in government and the non-governmental sector, and to those who aspire to such positions. Informed by the latest insights of policy research, Contemporary Policy Analysis provides detailed, hands-on instruction to analysts about key aspects of professional policy work, from how to manage policy research projects to how to present policy advice. Unlike other works--which stop there--this book goes further in clearly setting out the context for policy work in a survey of the activities of modern governments and an outline of the underpinnings of analysis in notions of market and government failures."--Michael Howlett, Simon Fraser University”

"Contemporary Policy Analysisshould be especially useful to faculty seeking a practice-orientedapproach to policy analysis that integrates analytical, strategic, andmanagement concerns."--David A. Rochefort, Northeastern University"There is no current text that provides detailed treatment ofanalytic tools without requiring a background in microeconomics. I amenthusiastic about the book's broad perspective, which addressescriteria and impacts other than economic efficiency. The writing isclear and concise, and I like the learning activities at the end of eachchapter."--Megan Mullin, Temple University"The author has done a fantastic job achieving the goals outlinedin the preface. I am very much looking forward to adopting this book formy policy analysis course."--Dana Lee Baker, Washington State University"Following on his excellent earlier work in People Skills for Policy Analysts,Mintrom continues to provide state-of-the-art knowledge of immediateuse to professional policy analysts working in government and thenon-governmental sector, and to those who aspire to such positions.Informed by the latest insights of policy research, Contemporary Policy Analysisprovides detailed, hands-on instruction to analysts about key aspectsof professional policy work, from how to manage policy research projectsto how to present policy advice. Unlike other works--which stopthere--this book goes further in clearly setting out the context forpolicy work in a survey of the activities of modern governments and anoutline of the underpinnings of analysis in notions of market andgovernment failures."--Michael Howlett, Simon Fraser University

Michael Mintrom is Associate Professor of Political Studies and Coordinator of the Master of Public Policy degree at the University of Auckland in New Zealand.

A groundbreaking interpretation of the field, Contemporary Policy Analysis offers a state-of-the art look at what policy analysts do and how they can make the world a better place. The book is an indispensable resource for experienced policy analysts and an ideal core text for upper-level undergraduate and first-year graduate courses in policy analysis. Contemporary Policy Analysis works from a project orientation, providing a thorough and nontechnical overview of the key concepts and analytical strategies employed by policy analysts. Opening with coverage of what policy analysts do, what governments do, and government policy objectives, the first section of the book then discusses how to manage policy projects, present policy advice, and perform ethical policy analysis. The second section presents a set of core analytical strategies, featuring chapters on the analysis of markets, market failure, government failure, comparative institutional analysis, cost-benefit analysis, implementation analysis, and--unique to this survey--gender analysis and race analysis. Each of these strategy chapters includes a step-by-step guide to performing the analysis, incorporating an example from the policy literature that follows the steps and shows how the strategy can illuminate current policy issues. In addition, the chapters are enhanced by exercises and suggestions for class projects and policy research seminars.

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