Public Policy

Features

• Michael Mintrom's investment perspective offers a unique approach to the study of public policy, giving the text more conceptual coherence than others in the market
• The "Policy Investment Checklist," a new tool for policy analysis, is featured in every chapter, reinforcing the text's main investment theme
• The pursuit of civil rights is connected to every major area of contemporary public policy
• Brief case studies highlight broader theoretical points and are accompanied by critical-thinking questions
• "In-Focus" boxes provide further insight into specific topics or government programs
• Pedagogical features in every chapter include summaries, lists of key terms, questions for discussion, suggestions for further readings, and lists of useful websites

About the Author(s)

Michael Mintrom is a Professor of Public Sector Management at Monash University. He holds a joint appointment at the Australia and New Zealand School of Government as Academic Director of its Executive Master of Public Administration degree, offered in collaboration with the organization's eleven university partners. Michael is past president of the Public Policy Section of the American Political Science Association. He is a globally respected expert on policy analysis and policy entrepreneurship. His books include Contemporary Policy Analysis (Oxford University Press, 2012), People Skills for Policy Analysts (2003), and Policy Entrepreneurs and School Choice (2000).

Reviews

"This work is a significant contribution to the study of public policy-making. I agree with the author's revolutionary approach in regarding public policies as investments, since they entail the public expenditures of scarce resources to which there should be substantial returns."--Mordu Serry-Kamal, Winston-Salem State University

"I am always on the lookout for new texts that can help me convey the information about public policy to students. The investment orientation taken by the author is novel and would certainly be useful in helping me keep the course fresh." --Hugh Bartling, Depaul University

"Given my interest in the political economy approach to the study of public policy, discussing policies as investments is completely up my alley. Public Policy: Investing for a Better World fits the way that I teach the basic concepts of public policy, and there aren't many introductory textbooks on the market that do so." --Craig Ortsey, Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne

"Michael Mintrom's new book, Public Policy: Investing for a Better World, is refreshing. It embraces the novel theme that governments should treat their public policies as investments. This theme is effectively carried through each of the eight substantive policy chapters. Mintrom's text is an essential, insightful book that will engage students of public policy." --Ann O'M. Bowman, Professor and Hazel Davis and Robert Kennedy Endowed Chair in Government and Public Service, The Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University

"There are many textbooks that introduce students to the world of public policy, but Michael Mintrom's accessible and illuminating new book is distinctive. It considers public policies not merely as the outcomes of current political battles but also as 'investments' to create public value. In Mintrom's able hands, the investment perspective demonstrates how governments can make thoughtful, evidence-based decisions to create a better future for citizens. With its engaging presentation and timely case examples, Mintrom's Public Policy: Investing for a Better World will challenge students to think critically about the policy-making process and the policy legacies that emerge from it." --Eric Patashnik, Julis-Rabinowitz Professor of Public Policy and Political Science, Brown University