Victor Bekkers, Menno Fenger and Peter Scholten, Department of Public Administration and Sociology, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands

'The field of policy studies has long been characterized by rather narrow empirical perspectives. In more recent years, however, there has been a flurry of theoretical orientations that have sought to reorient the field in ways that speak to contemporary policy realities. By focusing on the differences and intersections between four competing perspectives - rational, political, institutional, and cultural - Public Policy in Action offers a useful framework that helps to move the field forward.'--Frank Fischer, Humboldt Universitat zu Berlin, Germany

• Contents: 1. Politics and Policies in a Changing World 2. Four Perspectives on the Policy Process 3. Policy Problems and Agenda Setting 4. Policy Formulation: Development, Steering, Instruments and Decision-Making 5. Policy Implementation 6. Evaluating Public Policy 7. Policy Dynamics: Learning, Change and Innovation 8. The Reflective Policy Maker Index

Victor Bekkers, Menno Fenger and Peter Scholten, Department of Public Administration and Sociology, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands

'The field of policy studies has long been characterized by rather narrow empirical perspectives. In more recent years, however, there has been a flurry of theoretical orientations that have sought to reorient the field in ways that speak to contemporary policy realities. By focusing on the differences and intersections between four competing perspectives - rational, political, institutional, and cultural - Public Policy in Action offers a useful framework that helps to move the field forward.'--Frank Fischer, Humboldt Universitat zu Berlin, Germany

• Contents: 1. Politics and Policies in a Changing World 2. Four Perspectives on the Policy Process 3. Policy Problems and Agenda Setting 4. Policy Formulation: Development, Steering, Instruments and Decision-Making 5. Policy Implementation 6. Evaluating Public Policy 7. Policy Dynamics: Learning, Change and Innovation 8. The Reflective Policy Maker Index

Victor Bekkers, Menno Fenger and Peter Scholten, Department of Public Administration and Sociology, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands

'The field of policy studies has long been characterized by rather narrow empirical perspectives. In more recent years, however, there has been a flurry of theoretical orientations that have sought to reorient the field in ways that speak to contemporary policy realities. By focusing on the differences and intersections between four competing perspectives - rational, political, institutional, and cultural - Public Policy in Action offers a useful framework that helps to move the field forward.'--Frank Fischer, Humboldt Universitat zu Berlin, Germany

• Contents: 1. Politics and Policies in a Changing World 2. Four Perspectives on the Policy Process 3. Policy Problems and Agenda Setting 4. Policy Formulation: Development, Steering, Instruments and Decision-Making 5. Policy Implementation 6. Evaluating Public Policy 7. Policy Dynamics: Learning, Change and Innovation 8. The Reflective Policy Maker Index