Louise Reardon - Böcker

Government interest in wellbeing as an explicit goal of public policy has increased significantly in recent years. This has led to new developments in measuring wellbeing and initiatives aimed specifically at enhancing wellbeing, that reflect new thinking on 'what matters' and challenge established notions of societal progress. The Politics and Policy of Wellbeing provides the first theoretically grounded and empirically informed account of the rise and significance of wellbeing in contemporary politics and policy.Drawing on theories of agenda-setting and policy change, Ian Bache and Louise Reardon consider whether wellbeing can be described as 'an idea whose time has come'. The book reflects on developments across the globe and provides a detailed comparative analysis of two political arenas: the UK and the EU. Offering the first reflection grounded in evidence of the potential for wellbeing to be paradigm changing, the authors identify the challenge of bringing wellbeing into policy as a 'wicked problem' that policymakers are only now beginning to grapple with.This pioneering account of wellbeing from a political science perspective is a unique and valuable contribution to the field. The authors' theoretical and empirical conclusions are of great interest to scholars of politics and wellbeing alike.

Government interest in wellbeing as an explicit goal of public policy has increased significantly in recent years. This has led to new developments in measuring wellbeing and initiatives aimed specifically at enhancing wellbeing, that reflect new thinking on 'what matters' and challenge established notions of societal progress. The Politics and Policy of Wellbeing provides the first theoretically grounded and empirically informed account of the rise and significance of wellbeing in contemporary politics and policy.Drawing on theories of agenda-setting and policy change, Ian Bache and Louise Reardon consider whether wellbeing can be described as 'an idea whose time has come'. The book reflects on developments across the globe and provides a detailed comparative analysis of two political arenas: the UK and the EU. Offering the first reflection grounded in evidence of the potential for wellbeing to be paradigm changing, the authors identify the challenge of bringing wellbeing into policy as a 'wicked problem' that policymakers are only now beginning to grapple with.This pioneering account of wellbeing from a political science perspective is a unique and valuable contribution to the field. The authors' theoretical and empirical conclusions are of great interest to scholars of politics and wellbeing alike.

Rapid changes are underway in mobility systems worldwide, including the introduction of shared mobility solutions, Mobility as a Service and the testing of automated vehicles. These changes are driven by the development and application of ‘smart’ technologies. Transition to these technologies present significant opportunities for countries, cities and rural areas alike, offering the tempting prospect of economic benefit whilst resolving today’s safety, congestion, and pollution problems.  Yet while there is a wealth of research considering how these new technologies may impact on travel behaviour, improve safety and help the environment, there is a dearth of research exploring the key governance questions that the transition to these technologies pose in their disruption of the status quo, and changes to governance that may be required for the achievement of positive social outcomes. This book aims to step into this void and in doing so presents an agenda for future research and policy action. Bringing together a collection of internationally recognised scholars, drawing on case studies from around the world, authors critically reflect on three primary governance considerations. First, the changing role of the state both during and post-transition. Second, identifying the voices shaping the smart mobility discourse. And third, analysing the implications for the state’s capacity to steer networks and outcomes as a result of these transitions. The authors argue that at present there exists a critical window of opportunity for researchers and practitioners to shape transitions and that this opportunity must be seized upon before it is too late.

Providing an integrated and multi-level analysis of the impacts of COVID-19 on people, place, economies and policies, across the globe, this timely book explores how the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic combines failure with success. It focuses on exploring rapid adaptation and improvisation by individuals, organisations and governments as they attempted to minimise and mitigate the socio-economic and health impacts of the pandemic.Interdisciplinary chapters written by social policy, geography, planning, policy, sociology and public health experts explore the broader impacts of COVID-19, positioning the pandemic in the context of wider trends and risks including climate change. Chapters highlight the importance of place and local contexts in understanding its impacts in different settings including Europe, Canada, North America, South Korea, South Africa and Lebanon. In doing so, the book develops a pandemic preparedness, responsiveness and recovery research framework and intends to inform post-pandemic policy development and research. This is an important book for geography, social policy, politics, urban studies, planning and business and management researchers and students, particularly those focusing on crisis management and risk and resilience. With key case studies from across the globe, it will help elucidate key issues for policy makers and practitioners across a range of sectors including strategic management, social policy, public health and the built environment.

This cutting-edge Handbook explores the many ways in which politics influences transportation policy, planning and implementation, as well as the effects of transportation on political processes. It rigorously analyses the complex interrelation between administration, politics and transportation, presenting theoretical and empirical insights into the governance approaches required to advance transportation’s contribution to social and ecological wellbeing.Expert authors from across the globe provide a comprehensive overview of the role that politics plays in transportation policymaking, highlighting the value of robust and critical analysis for identifying and developing more equitable and inclusive approaches to transportation policymaking. They examine how society can govern mobilities across multiple scales and explore how the benefits and burdens of transportation are distributed. The Handbook demonstrates how configurations of beliefs, interests, and institutions influence policy and outlines emerging methodologies that can be employed to increase understanding of current and emerging transportation challenges.Presenting a new perspective on the ongoing scholarly and policy discussions in transportation, this Handbook is an essential resource for students and scholars in transport planning, political science, public policy and administration, regulation and governance, and geography. It will also appeal to practitioners and policymakers seeking to further understand the political dimensions of transportation.