Abstract

How well can democratic decision making incorporate the knowledge and expertise generated by public policy analysts? This book examines the historical development of policy analysis, as well as its use in legislative and regulatory bodies and in the federal executive branch. The essays show that policy-analytic expertise effectively improves governmental services only when it complements democratic decision making. When successful, policy analysis fosters valuable new ideas, better use of evidence, and greater transparency in decision processes.

Additional Information

Contents

Preface xiii
1. Public Policy Making and Public Policy Analysis
by Lee S. Friedman

2. How Effective Is Policy Analysis?
by John A. Hird

3. Can Congress Do Policy Analysis? The Politics of Problem Solving on Capitol Hill
by Eric M. Patashnik and Justin Peck

4. The Complicated and the Complex: Policy Analysis in an Era of Design
by M. Suzanne Donovan

5. Summary and Future Directions
by Lee S. Friedman