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Public Policy

Continuity and Change

Carter A. Wilson

Public policy issues are everywhere; their effects are felt on personal and societal levels. Although many aspects of our lives are directly or indirectly affected by public policies, most of us don’t fully understand them: Why do they exist? What different types of public policy are there? What are some of the more controversial policy issues today? What are the different positions on those issues? Why do we have government? Why does government attempt to solve certain types of problems and ignore others? How do we understand the continuity and change in public policies?

In this comprehensive survey, Wilson answers these questions using a historical and theoretical approach to deconstruct many aspects of public policy issues. He examines the evolution of public policies, the long-term patterns of public policy development, the function and role of government institutions in making policy, different types of policy, the political behavior surrounding policies, and the role of organized interest groups in preserving or changing the status quo. His explanations and applications of particular theories related to public policy issues and enactment; his informal, engaging writing style; and his refined flow of topics and ideas instill the incentive to build a balanced perspective and a better understanding and appreciation of the public policies that exist today.

$39.95 list, 370 pages

10-digit ISBN: 1-57766-599-6

13-digit ISBN: 978-1-57766-599-1

© 2006

“Carter Wilson has written a superb introduction to American public policy. It is unique in its sound theoretical base and coverage of the historical development of major public policies in the United States. Of the many books I have used in the introductory policy course over the years, Carter’s is the book that has generated the most favorable comments from students—and by an overwhelming margin.” —Bryan D. Jones, University of Texas at Austin

Table of Contents

Introduction

Explaining Continuity and Change in Public Policy / Using Policy Theory to Explain Policy Change / Policy Types / Organization of the Text

Part I: POLICY DEFINITION, THEORY, AND PROCESS

1. The Meaning of Public Policy

Why Government and Public Policies Are Essential / Definition of Public Policy / Different Public Policy Typologies / Government, Public Policy, and the Market / Ideology and Public Policy / Explaining Ambivalence toward Government and Public Policies / Scholars and Government and Public Policies

2. Policy Theory

State Centered and Decision Theory / Elitist and Pluralist Theory / Cyclical Theories / Eclectic Theories

3. Policy History

Punctuated Equilibrium and Cyclical Changes / The Progressive Era: 1900–1920 / The 1920s: Conservative Contraction / The 1930s: The Great Depression and the New Deal / The 1950s: Conservative Contraction / The 1960s and 1970s: Liberal Policy Expansion / The 1990s: Bush and Clinton / 2001 and Beyond: George W. Bush

4. National Institutions of Policy Making

The U.S. Constitution / Constitutional Changes / The Organization of the Federal Government and the Process of National Policy Making / Patterns of Policy Making

Part II: REDISTRIBUTIVE POLICY

5. Social Welfare Policy

The Preindustrial and Industrial Policy Regimes / Social Policy and Dominant Ideas / The Progressive Movement / The Social Welfare Policy Regime of the New Deal / The Great Society Policy Regime / Social Programs since the 1980s / Policy Regime Shift and Other Social Welfare Policy Changes

6. Health Care Policy

The Solo Doctor Policy Regime / The Medicare/Medicaid Policy Regime / Insurance and Health Maintenance Organizations / Health Care Crisis / Health Care Policy Initiatives of the Late 20th Century

7. Civil Rights Policy

The Struggle of Minorities against Prejudice and Injustice / African Americans and Civil Rights Policies / Civil Rights since the 1960s / Women and Civil Rights / Civil Rights and Disabling Conditions / Civil Rights and Sexual Orientation

Part III: PROTECTIVE AND COMPETITIVE REGULATORY POLICY

8. Environmental Protection Policy

The Industrial Policy Regime / Conservation Policy Regime / Environmental Policy Regime Change

9. Labor Policy

The Classical Labor Policy Regime, 1789–1910 / The Progressive Labor Policy Regime, 1910–1938 / The New Deal Labor Policy Regime, 1938–1970 / From the New Deal to the Protective Labor Policy Regime / Labor Policy Changes from 1980 to the Present

10. Competitive Regulatory Policy

Markets and the Development of Government Regulation / Railroad Regulations and the Interstate Commerce Commission / Regulatory Policy and the Communications Industry / Antitrust and Antimonopoly Policy

Part IV: MORALITY POLICY

11. Fertility Control Policy

A Brief History of Fertility Control / Policy Change and Regime Change / The Supreme Court and Policy Change / Violence and the Abortion Issue / The Impact of Abortion Policy / Fertility Control in World Perspective

12. Criminal Justice Policy

The Colonial Criminal Justice Regime, 1610–1790 / The Preindustrial Criminal Justice Regime, 1791–1870 / The Industrial Criminal Justice Regime, 1870–1960 / The Rights Criminal Justice Regime, 1960–1994 / The Incarceration Criminal Justice Regime, 1994–Present

Part V: DISTRIBUTIVE POLICY

13. Education Policy

The Preindustrial Educational Policy Regime, 1700–1900 / The Industrial Educational Policy Regime, 1900–1970 / The Rights Educational Policy Regime, 1970–1995 / The Choice Educational Policy Regime

14. Economic Policy

Classical Economic Period, 1789–1932 / Economic Policy Regimes of the Classical Period / The Keynesian Economic Era, 1932–Present / The Post-Keynesian Economic Policy Regime, 1980–Present

15. Continuity and Change in Public Policy

Policy Types and Policy Change / Theories of Policy Change / Policy Regime Theory / Conflict and Stability in Public Policy / The Future of Public Policies