Public policy most often comes in the form of a policy mix made up of a variety of important policy tools, including both the policy mechanisms (tools that operate in different ways such as regulation, incentive systems, or other means), and the instruments used to put those mechanisms into operation (ranging from legislation, to administrative rules, to executive orders, to contracts and grants). If policy is to be effective and avoid serious adverse consequences, it is critical for those designing policies to understand the full range of tools, their strengths, their limitations, and the tradeoffs among them as they go about their work.

This book explores these policy tools and their uses and possible misuse. It is designed to equip students of public policy and public administration for policy work, but is also a useful resource for public service professionals in the field and academics who study policy. It is part of a necessary ongoing discussion about the tools of public policy and the task of policy design.

Policy Tools in Policy Design assumes no prior knowledge of the field or of any given policy. It is clearly written and does not lose the reader, even a seasoned policy professional, in unnecessary technical detail while capturing the critical characteristics of policy tools and the process of policy design. In addition, the chapters feature a number of mini-case studies to illuminate key points and provide discussion points for class use.

"Phillip Cooper, one of the foremost scholars of public policy and administration, brings together his formidable knowledge as well as his practical, real world experience in this comprehensive analysis of the design and implementation of public policy. For graduate or undergraduate students, Policy Tools in Policy Design provides a thorough and insightful analysis of the ways in which public policy can most effectively be implemented. I highly recommend it."

James Pfiffner, University Professor, Schar School of Policy & Government, George Mason University

”All too often, policy makers insist on jamming the wrong tool into the wrong problem--and then wonder later why the result is such a mess. They do that because they think about what they want to do and very little about how best to get it done. In this important new book, Phillip Cooper explores the tools in government's toolbox and provides an invaluable guide to what works where. Students, scholars, and policy makers alike will be richly rewarded by this sharp analysis about how government can best do the people's work.”

Donald F. Kettl, Professor, Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin

Contents

Chapter 1. The Challenge, the Setting, the Tools, and the Task of Policy Design

Chapter 2. Policy Mechanisms: The Appliances Available and How They Work

Chapter 3. Tools Based on Direct Government Authority: Direct Action and Regulation

Chapter 4. Economic and Market-Based Policy Tools: Incentives, ax Expenditures, Vouchers and Rebates, Subsidies, Government Corporations, and Government Sponsored Enterprises

Chapter 5. Broad Based Tools that Work Differently: Contracting, Grants, Corrective Taxes, Charges, Tradable Permits, and Public Information

Chapter 6. Courts and Judicial Process in Public Policy: Liability, the Civil Rights Policy Model, and More

Chapter 7. Policy Instruments: Tools that Put Policy on the Ground and Why That Matters

Chapter 8. The Art and Craft of Legislation: From Local Ordinances to Congressional Action

Chapter 9. Executive Direct Action: Executive Orders, Proclamations, and Memoranda

Chapter 10. Presidential Direct Policy Making II: Presidential Signing Statements, National Security Directives, and Executive Agreements

Chapter 11. Interstate, Intergovernmental, and Cross-Sectoral Tools: Interstate Compacts, Contracts, Intergovernmental Agreements, and Grants

Chapter 12. Administrative Rules, Judicial Decrees, Injunctions, and Opinions: Key Elements of Policy Design but Part of Implementation as Well

Chapter 13. Policy Tools in Policy Design: A Professional Checklist

Bibliography

Opinions Cited

Index

Getting Things Done with Courage and Conviction

Principles and Cases in Public Management

Dwight Ink and Kurt Thurmaier

367 pages, paperback, $49.95

ISBN: 978-0-9992352-8

Description

The cases in Getting Things Done with Courage and Conviction are extracted from the experiences of Dwight Ink, whose career has spanned more than 50 years (and counting…), including key roles in helping advance important initiatives of seven presidents.

 

The book is specifically designed for flexible in-class assignments. Each of the nine cases provides insights into key government operations that are relevant to public administrators today. Each chapter highlights enduring issues in public administration theory and practice (e.g., political control of the bureaucracy, ethical procurement and personnel processes, intergovernmental management, several others).  

 

The timelessness of the strategies and the authors’ strong desire to motivate the best and brightest to careers in public service compelled them to produce this book as both a management guidebook and a source of encouragement and inspiration for getting things done today.

 Contents

Preface and Acknowledgments
1.    Management Strategies for Effective Public Service	s
2.    Opening the Closet Doors in Fargo: Using Transparency and Collaboration with Integrity
3.    The Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty: Personal Risk, Personal Engagement, and Transparent Collaboration
4.    The Impossible Alaska Recovery
5.    Building a New Department
6.    Building Nixon’s New Federalism
7.    Fighting Petty Corruption in the General Service Administration
8.    Creating the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978
9.    Closing the Community Services Administration
10.   Implementing Foreign Aid Reforms Amid Civil Wars, 1984–1988
11.      Getting Things Done . . . Today!
Index

Praise for Getting Things Done with Courage and Conviction

 

“Public servant extraordinaire, Dwight Ink has spent nearly a century completing seemingly impossible tasks with grace, intelligence, creativity, integrity, and true grit. Dwight and Kurt Thurmaier have superbly captured these experiences in a book that should be required reading for every public administration student and practitioner. These cases demonstrate how to use all the levers of government to achieve positive outcomes.”

—Diane M. Disney
Chair Emerita, National Academy of Public Administration

Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense

Essential History for Public Administration offers public affairs faculty and students a concise introduction to crucial elements of American history, creating a foundation for stronger discussion of current conditions in governance and management. It is designed as a brief supplemental text for use in public affairs courses rather than as a replacement for core assigned readings. The premise of the book is that enhanced knowledge of the history of the public sector can help students of public affairs design and manage successful programs.

Praise for Essential History for Public Administration

“Richard Box’s new book, Essential History for Public Administration, is the most exciting development I have seen in readings for public administration students in some time! It is a compelling and accessible read, perfect for busy in-service students, pre-service, and those within all stages of the Digital Age.

The book is organized brilliantly, weaving common themes through four eras of change, from the Founding Era to the present time. This narrative format is pedagogically sound, allowing the reader to grasp the relevance to our twenty-first-century realities, as well as to understand that some of the issues wrestled within the Founding Era are reflected in today’s discourse. 

Many of us bemoan the lack of U.S. history and civic education in our country. Box’s book successfully addresses that situation, providing much needed historical context in an engaging fashion. I expect this book to enjoy wide appeal to PA faculty in a variety of PA courses, at the baccalaureate level as well as the advanced degree level.”

—Laurie DiPadova-Stocks, Park University

“Since the founding, Americans have been wary about government and unelected bureaucrats. This book provides a nuanced understanding of the role and position of government in American society, showing how much people actually benefited from public services. It shows how issues about balancing the public and private sectors, the size and cost of government, the distribution of economic and political power, and of migration have played out from Independence up to the present day. This well-written and accessible book will make good reading for students, citizens, and those who work in the public sector.”

—Jos C.N. Raadschelders, The Ohio State University

“Essential History for Public Administration is an insightful text about the founding of public administration management. Contextualized across four time periods (the Founding Era, the Progressive Era, the New Deal, and the Great Society), each discussion provides the reader with the social and political context necessary to understand the evolution of the field. Common themes (public versus private interests, concentrated wealth and power, the size and cost of government, and insiders and outsiders) are threaded throughout the book to demonstrate how these concepts have transformed over time. Richard Box has written an informative, concise, and approachable text that can be used by any person interested in public administration.”

—Brandi Blessett, Rutgers University–Camden

The Sixth Edition of Public Budgeting in America explains budgetary theory and practice, with a linkage to financial management, at all levels of government in the U.S. It is designed as a primary text for students in public administration and policy, and also serves as an invaluable reference for scholars, practitioners and other readers interested in public budgeting and financial management.

Each chapter begins with a budgeting scenario and an introduction of major topics, followed by detailed discussion of each topic, and concludes with a revisit of the opening scenario, a list of review questions, additional case exercises, and references, all of which are integral to the book. Readers are encouraged to apply what they learn in each chapter, analyze the cases, answer the review questions, and expand their research based on the references provided at the end of each chapter.

New to This Edition

In response to recent budgetary developments, the Sixth Edition has been extensively revised, with all-new coverage on:

• n       changes in monetary and fiscal policies in the twenty-first century (Chapter 2);

• n       recent performance management initiatives (Chapter 3);

• n       federal budget deficits and policy changes under the Bush and Obama administrations (Chapter 3);

• n       government revenue and expenditure forecasting (Chapter 5);

• n       Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports (Chapter 7) -- completely rewritten in accordance with GASB changes;

• n       Social Impact Bonds, a new type of debt instrument with an unusual approach to paying off bonds (Chapter 8);

• n       challenges faced by government in funding public employee pensions (Chapter 10).

Praise for Public Budgeting in America

“A thorough knowledge of budgeting is a sure path to advancement in the public and non-profit sectors. Lynch, Sun, and Smith provide students with an excellent foundation. Public Budgeting in America is easy to understand and provides useful real-world exercises.” (James Douglas, University of North Carolina at Charlotte)

“Public Budgeting in America provides an excellent introduction to the practice of budgeting.” (Daniel Williams, Baruch College, CUNY)

“This is a classic -- maybe the classic book on US budgeting. If I had to pick one book to give to a person wanting to know how budgeting works, it would be this one. Not only does it give practical guidance, it gives a rich context so the reader will really understand our system.”  (John R. Bartle (Dean, College of Public Affairs and Community Service, University of Nebraska Omaha)

Rethinking Public Administration

The Case for Management

Second Edition