Making and Implementing Public Policy: Key Concepts and Issues

Until the mid-19th century, the role of the state was relatively limited; however, over time governments have become increasingly involved in setting frameworks for developments in areas such as the economy and transport, and in the direct provision of services such as education, health care and pensions. While the nature and extent of the government’s roles is widely contested, the effects of public policy are all around us, and the importance of understanding its scope at an individual, state and global level is therefore significant.
Written by two authorities in the field, Making and Implementing Policy introduces key concepts and theoretical approaches that underpin the study of the policy process. It examines the distribution and exercise of power, and the ways in which power is central to our understanding of how policies are made and implemented.
Using real-world examples of public policy to illustrate key points, the text covers topics such as:
The meanings and scope of public policy and the development of policy analysis
The impact of multi-level governance and the spread of powers to different levels of decision-making over the past three decades, including the devolution to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and the erosion of local government powers and provisions
The idea of ‘arm’s-length’ decision making and policy implementation and associated issues, such as accountability, regulation and scrutiny.