LibGuides: POL 42990: Washington Program in National Issues: Overview

Overview

This Research Guide has been created to assist you in finding informaiton on your selected public policy issue. You will be exporing this issue in several assignments that are due throughout the semester. On the left-hand side of the page is a menu of information sources that you will need to engage with to complete these assignments. Please note, that these are not comprehensive but provides you good starting points to begin researching on your selected issue.

If you get stuck, please feel free to reach out to me and I am more than happy to help you find information or guide you through some of the resources. I am here to help!

Books from the Collection

The books below are not required for this course, but they might provide more information relating to the broarder topic of the process of public policy develpment in the United States.

Dismantling Public Policy by Andrew Jordan (Editor); Christoffer Green-Pedersen (Editor); Adrienne Heritier (Editor); Michael W. Bauer (Editor)
Call Number: eBook
Publication Date: 2013
Policy dismantling involves reducing or removing existing policies, often during economic austerity, leading to political conflict. Scholars have been slow to analyze the conditions for dismantling. This book compares social and environmental policy dismantling, offering a new framework and empirical cases to understand the motivations, strategies, and effects of policy cuts.
Do Think Tanks Matter? Assessing the Impact of Public Policy Institutes by Donald E. Abelson
Call Number: eBook
Publication Date: 2009
This book examines the evolving impact of think tanks on policy-making. He highlights their role in shaping political dialogue and policy preferences, noting their varying influence in the U.S. and Canada. The third edition includes new profiles, updates on presidents and think tanks, and data on think tank visibility.
How to Do Public Policy by Anke Hassel & Kai Wegrich
Call Number: eBook
Publication Date: 2022
"How to Do Public Policy" guides students and practitioners in improving policy problem-solving in a political context. It integrates applied policy analysis and policy process studies, emphasizing the interaction between specialists and political actors. The book covers policy design, implementation, evaluation, stakeholder engagement, policy coordination, and institutional roles.
Innovation and Public Policy by Austan Goolsbee; Benjamin F. Jones
Call Number: eBook
Publication Date: 2022
This volume explores innovation policy and its social returns, using the latest research for readers in economics, business, and policy. It examines U.S. government mechanisms like tax credits, grants, and programs to promote innovation, and discusses expanding the research workforce, funding basic research, and fostering entrepreneurship to drive economic prosperity and human welfare.
The Politics of Evidence-Based Policy Making by Paul Cairney
Call Number: eBook
Publication Date: 2016
The Politics of Evidence Based Policymaking explores how to effectively engage policymakers using scientific evidence. Policymakers use rational and irrational shortcuts to make decisions. Most studies focus on reducing uncertainty but overlook ambiguity. Effective strategies involve forming coalitions and using simple, persuasive stories to address policymakers' biases.