American Public Policy: Promise and Performance

By B. Guy Peters

Book Overview

American Public Policy provides a comprehensive yet accessible overview of the landscape of public policy. This foundational text takes students through the governmental systems and core theories of policymaking before turning to in-depth exploration of key policy areas and tools of policy analysis.

Important additions to this Tenth Edition include expanded discussions of policy instruments, the challenges for public policymakers presented by the continuing gridlock in Washington, the Affordable Care Act, higher education funding, reproductive rights, and gay rights. New coverage of fracking controversies, race and racial profiling, and the legalization of marijuana keeps students up to date with recent policy debates and issues.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1483391507
• ISBN13: 9781483391502
• Release Date: September 2015
• Publisher: CQ Press
• Length: 592 Pages
• Weight: 1.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.8" x 1.3" x 6.0"

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.