American Public Policy: Promise and Performance

By B. Guy Peters

Book Overview

Now considered a classic amongst political experts, "American Public Policy" is an excellent overview of the fundamental processes and content of American public policy. Peters gives a clear exposition of the public policy environment from agenda setting to evaluation, identifying the governmental structures and procedures through which policy is designed and implemented. With characteristic flair for lucid and lively discussion, Peters examines the problems, goals, and important issues in substantive policy areas, including health care, social security and welfare, education, energy, environment, defense and law enforcement.A new chapter on social policy covering important contemporary topics such as abortion, school prayer, and gay rights enhances the currency of this accomplished review of public policy.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1566430240
• ISBN13: 9781566430241
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: Chatham House Pub
• Length: 470 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 6.3" x 1.0"

Customer Reviews

Very bland and hard to get through, but concise

It's a very hard book to get through, but I'm not sure there is any way to make a public policy book better. It appears to cover everything at least on a basic introduction to public policy level.

A Good Look at American Public Policy

Guy Peter's "American Public Policy: Promise and Performance" provides an informed and unbiased look at the public policy process as well as a number of major policy issues in America today. It's perhaps not the most exciting read (the first few chapters are especially dull) but thats more the fault of the subject than the author. However, if you are inclined to learn more about how the policy that affects our lives every day comes to be, this is worth a read. The chapters on tax policy, health care and education were particularly good. In all, the book features a discussion of the aforementioned issues, as well as economic policy, social security and welfare, environmental policy, energy policy, defense and law enforcement, and numerous social issues such as abortion. American Public Policy also features a detailed look at how policy is formulated, enacted and kept up, as well as how one analyzes the effects of a particular policy plan. Finally, the book provides a look at the two predominate forms of policy analysis and assessment: cost-benefit analysis and ethical analysis. Overall, I wouldnt recommend this book for fun reading. However, if you are taking a course in American public policy, are looking to research a prominent public policy area, or just want to learn more about the American policy system, Guy Peter's "American Public Policy: Promise and Performance" is definitely a great place to start.