Public Policy
Politics, Analysis, and Alternatives
- Michael E. Kraft - University of Wisconsin, Green Bay, USA
- Scott R. Furlong - State University of New York at Oswego
Public Policy & Public Administration
“Kraft and Furlong provide students with a conceptual understanding of public issues and how the public policy process functions. This book also provides a forum for discussions of social, economic, and sustainable development issues; their characteristics; and impacts on human beings (citizens) as well as the environment. It will give students the needed tools to make informed economic and human development decisions that could lead to sustainable growth, human capacity building, and better lives.“
—Robert Dibie, Indiana University Kokomo
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.
Public Policy: Politics, Analysis, and Alternatives, Seventh Edition helps students understand how and why policy analysis is used to assess policy alternatives. The text encourages them to not only question the assumptions of policy analysts, but also recognize how these strategies are used in the support of political arguments. The authors introduce and fully integrate an evaluative approach to policy to encourage critical and creative thinking on issues ranging from health care to climate change. From a concise review of institutions, policy actors, and major theoretical models to a discussion of the nature of policy analysis and its practice, 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.
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“The text allows for students to understand and apply policy making to the most misunderstood programs—healthcare, education, and the criminal justice system.”
“Kraft and Furlong’s Public Policy: Politics, Analysis, and Alternatives is an all-in-one, comprehensive approach to introducing public policy and analysis to undergraduate students with varying levels of interest and engagement. The text provides substantial breadth and depth between its covers in an accessible format for beginners, while providing guidance to additional resources for extensive study of specific topics. I’ve used the text as a student and instructor for 12 years and highly recommend its use for undergraduate students.”
“Kraft and Furlong provide students with a conceptual understanding of public issues and how the public policy process functions. This book also provides a forum for discussions of social, economic, and sustainable development issues; their characteristics; and impacts on human beings (citizens) as well as the environment. It will give students the needed tools to make informed economic and human development decisions that could lead to sustainable growth, human capacity building, and better lives.“
Easy for students to understand and apply with useful graphics that highlight key points.
This textbook has an easy-to-follow presentation of the policy process. The text is easy to read, the graphics and tables are on point, and the examples are relatively current.
I have used Kraft and Furlong for several years. I like the framework the authors use to develop both policy content and analysis. Excellent text!
I have been using the book for the last 11 years. The book is very easy to read with a lot of current examples.
Sample Materials & Chapters
Chapter 1 Public Policy and Politics
Chapter 2 Government Institutions and Policy Actors