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The Public Policy Theory Primer 3rd Edition

by Kevin B. Smith (Author), Christopher W. Larimer (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 50 ratings
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Public policy is a broad and interdisciplinary area of study and research in the field tends to reflect this. Yet for those teaching and studying public policy, the disjointed nature of the field can be confusing and cumbersome. This text provides a consistent and coherent framework for uniting the field of public policy. Authors Kevin B. Smith and Christopher W. Larimer offer an organized and comprehensive overview of the core questions and concepts, major theoretical frameworks, primary methodological approaches, and key controversies and debates in each subfield of policy studies from the policy process and policy analysis to program evaluation and policy implementation.

The third edition has been updated throughout to include the latest scholarship and approaches in the field, including new and expanded coverage of behavioral economics, the narrative policy framework, Fourth Generation implementation studies, the policy regime approach, field experiments, and the debate of program versus policy implementation studies. Now with an appendix of sample comprehensive exam questions, The Public Policy Theory Primer remains an indispensable text for the systematic study of public policy.

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  1. ISBN-10
    0813350050
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0813350059
  3. Edition
    3rd
  4. Publication date
    August 2, 2016
  5. Language
    English
  6. Dimensions
    6 x 0.65 x 9 inches
  7. Print length
    288 pages
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Previous Editions

"The Public Policy Theory Primer will give students a '30,000 foot view' of the field of policy studies, and provide the necessary context and overview to process the wide variety of perspectives and approaches. This is the much-needed missing piece that will allow the next generation of policy scholars to move the field forward." – Robert Wood, University of North Dakota

"Much more than a primer, this text recognizes the changing dynamics of policy science, emphasizing the latest research in implementation studies. Perfect for graduate seminars and students studying for comprehensive examinations, just about everything you need to know about the field of policy science is in this book." – Jacqueline Vaughn, Northern Arizona University
"Smith and Larimer’s tour de force provides both summary and serious critique of the field of policy studies. It will be the standard reference for years to come." -- Bryan D. Jones, University of Texas at Austin

From the Back Cover

Praise for Previous Editions

The Public Policy Theory Primer will give students a 30,000 foot view” of the field of policy studies, and provide the necessary context and overview to process the wide variety of perspectives and approaches. This is the much-needed missing piece that will allow the next generation of policy scholars to move the field forward.” —Robert Wood, University of North Dakota

Much more than a primer, this text recognizes the changing dynamics of policy science, emphasizing the latest research in implementation studies. Perfect for graduate seminars and students studying for comprehensive examinations, just about everything you need to know about the field of policy science is in this book.” —Jacqueline Vaughn, Northern Arizona University

Smith and Larimer’s tour de force provides both summary and serious critique of the field of policy studies. It will be the standard reference for years to come.” —Bryan D. Jones, University of Texas at Austin

Public policy is a broad and interdisciplinary area of study and research in the field tends to reflect this. Yet for those teaching and studying public policy, the disjointed nature of the field can be confusing and cumbersome. This text provides a consistent and coherent framework for uniting the field of public policy. Authors Kevin B. Smith and Christopher W. Larimer offer an organized and comprehensive overview of the core questions and concepts, major theoretical frameworks, primary methodological approaches, and key controversies and debates in each subfield of policy studies from the policy process and policy analysis to program evaluation and policy implementation.

The third edition has been updated throughout to include the latest scholarship and approaches in the field, including new and expanded coverage of behavioral economics, the narrative policy framework, Fourth Generation implementation studies, the policy regime approach, field experiments, and the debate of program versus policy implementation studies. Now with an appendix of sample comprehensive exam questions,The Public Policy Theory Primer remains an indispensable text for the systematic study of public policy.

Kevin B. Smith is professor of political science at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.

Christopher W. Larimer is associate professor of political science at the University of Northern Iowa.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Routledge; 3rd edition (August 2, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0813350050
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0813350059
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.65 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 50 ratings

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4.5 out of 5 stars
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Barb
    5.0 out of 5 stars Honestly the best policy theory book
    Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Theories can be hard to understand, but this book provides a comprehensive overview of the theories in public policy. It's so helpful.
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  • Yung Chun
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    The best book briefing the policy theories by topics.
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Great book!
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  • Daudi
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent historical summary and assessment of today's main public policy issues
    Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2018
    I've used this book for the past four years teaching a post-graduate course on Public Policy. To my mind there is no better single volume for this purpose. As the book blurb correctly states, Smith and Larimer offer an "organized and comprehensive overview of the core questions and concepts.". Their approach -that there are fields of public policy studies, not just one field- disaggregages the complexity of public policy issues into manageable sectors. The historical and interdisciplinary approach, from Lasswell's "stages model" through more recent post-positivist policy analysis, helps the reader to understand the changing dynamics of policy science, and how public policy studies have come to be what they are today. By assessing and offering a broad variety of perspectives - ideas and viewpoints from more than three hundred public policy analysts and writers - the authors highlight the key controversies and debates regarding public policy practice and analysis, for example, the fact that, far from being objectively analytical, policy design reflects the norms and values of its proponents. Highly recommended.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Y. C. S.
    1.0 out of 5 stars This book is a cacophony of in-text citations and last ...
    Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This book is a cacophony of in-text citations and last name-dropping of public policy theories and theorists. I found it impossible to read because the quotes get in the way of reading a full sentence. Extremely choppy and garbled. A messy rehash (which is supposed to be). If this is a textbook ask your faculty to reconsider.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • cesar buitron
    5.0 out of 5 stars Políticas Públicas reales.
    Reviewed in Spain on April 5, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Excelente libro para entender mejor él proceso de creación de las políticas públicas y aterrizarlo en la realidad del lugar.
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  • I. Printz
    5.0 out of 5 stars ... field of public policy and couldn't have picked a better book. I love that Smith and Larimer offer ...
    Reviewed in Canada on December 16, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I was looking for a "bird's eye view" of the field of public policy and couldn't have picked a better book. I love that Smith and Larimer offer us a plethora of approaches and sub-fields as part of their survey of what they call "the fields of public policy studies", and that they let us make up our own mind about which approach is more compatible with our own views and approaches to policy. Now, if only I could find something like this for the field of educational policy, I will be very very happy.
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