Public Policy in Britain

First published in 1983, this textbook is now published in a completely revised and updated form to take full account of changes in policy-making in the second half of Mrs Thatcher's first decade in power.

Preface to the Second Edition viii PART I Approaches and Views 1 1 Introducing the 'Policy Approach' 3 Why Use a Particular Approach? 3 Choosing an Approach 8 What Does the Policy Approach Involve? 11 Why Choose the Policy Approach? 17 Some Underlying Assumptions 17 References 21 2 Views of Policy Making 22 Behavioural Views 24 Structural Views 33 Choosing Between Views 48 Topics for Discussion 49 Key Reading 49 References 50 PART II Acquiring Resources 51 3 Acquiring Resources: the Policy Ingredients 53 Support: the Intangible Resource 54 Tangible Resources 65 Conclusion 80 Topics for Discussion 81 Key Reading 82 References 82 4 Problems of Acquiring Resources - What, How and from Whom? 84 Problems of Acquisition 86 Who Pays How Much of the Costs of Resource Acquisition? 99 Conclusion 106 Topics for Discussion 109 Key Reading 109 References 109 PART III Dividing Resources 111 5 Dividing Resources: the Criteria for Choice 113 How much is Spent? On What? By Whom? 113 Policy Needs 118 Policy Demands 126 Needs, Demands and Power 137 Topics for Discussion 140 Key Reading 140 References 141 6 Dividing Resources: the Politics of Public Expenditure 143 Machinery and Procedures 143 The Play of Power 159 Conclusion 167 Topics for Discussion 169 Key Reading 170 References 170 PART IV Applying Policies 173 7 The Products of Government: Carrying out Intentions 175 The Means of Carrying out Policies 179 The Effectiveness of Carrying out Policies 190 Conclusion 199 Topics for Discussion 200 Key Reading 201 References 201 8 The Consequences of Government: Outcomes and Impact 203 The Effectiveness of Policy 205 The Distribution of Policy 214 Conclusion 224 Topics for Discussion 227 Key Reading 227 References 228 PART V Conclusion 229 9 The Policy Approach Reviewed 231 Effectiveness and Distribution 232 Power, Constraints and Capacity 233 Accountability and Assessment 237 Judgement and Policy Choice 238 Studying Public Policy 241 References 242 Author Index 243 Subject Index 236