SARAH BALL – författare

Using rich ethnographic data and first-hand experience, Ball presents a detailed account of Australia’s attempts to incorporate behavioural insights into its public policy.

Ball identifies three competing interpretations of behavioural public policy, and how these interpretations have influenced the use of this approach in practice. The first sees the process as an opportunity to introduce more rigorous evidence. The second interpretation focuses on increasing compliance, cost savings and cutting red tape. The last focuses on the opportunity to better involve citizens in policy design. These interpretations demonstrate different ‘solutions’ to a series of dilemmas that the Australian Public Service, and others, have confronted in the last 50 years, including growing politicisation, technocracy and a disconnect from the needs of citizens. Ball offers a detailed account of how these priorities have shaped how behavioural insights have been implemented in policy-making, as well as reflecting on the challenges facing policy work more broadly.

An essential read for practitioners and scholars of policy-making, especially in Australia.

Using rich ethnographic data and first-hand experience, Ball presents a detailed account of Australia’s attempts to incorporate behavioural insights into its public policy.

Ball identifies three competing interpretations of behavioural public policy, and how these interpretations have influenced the use of this approach in practice. The first sees the process as an opportunity to introduce more rigorous evidence. The second interpretation focuses on increasing compliance, cost savings and cutting red tape. The last focuses on the opportunity to better involve citizens in policy design. These interpretations demonstrate different ‘solutions’ to a series of dilemmas that the Australian Public Service, and others, have confronted in the last 50 years, including growing politicisation, technocracy and a disconnect from the needs of citizens. Ball offers a detailed account of how these priorities have shaped how behavioural insights have been implemented in policy-making, as well as reflecting on the challenges facing policy work more broadly.

An essential read for practitioners and scholars of policy-making, especially in Australia.

The seventh edition of this classic handbook on the policy process is fully updated, featuring new material on policy making amid local and global disruption, the contestable nature of modern policy advice, commissioning and contracting, public engagement and policy success and failure.

The Australian Policy Handbook shows how public policy permeates every aspect of our lives. It is the stuff of government, justifying taxes, driving legislation and shaping our social services. Public policy gives us roads, railways and airports, emergency services, justice, education and health services, defence, industry development and natural resource management. While politicians make the decisions, public servants provide analysis and support for those choices. This updated edition includes new visuals and introduces a series of case studies for the first time. These cases—covering family violence, behavioural economics, justice reinvestment, child protection and more—illustrate the personal and professional challenges of policymaking practice. Drawing on their extensive practical and academic experience, the authors outline the processes used in making public policy. They systematically explain the relationships between political decision makers, public service advisers, community participants and those charged with implementation.

The Australian Policy Handbook remains the essential guide for students and practitioners of policy making in Australia.

The seventh edition of this classic handbook on the policy process is fully updated, featuring new material on policy making amid local and global disruption, the contestable nature of modern policy advice, commissioning and contracting, public engagement and policy success and failure.

The Australian Policy Handbook shows how public policy permeates every aspect of our lives. It is the stuff of government, justifying taxes, driving legislation and shaping our social services. Public policy gives us roads, railways and airports, emergency services, justice, education and health services, defence, industry development and natural resource management. While politicians make the decisions, public servants provide analysis and support for those choices. This updated edition includes new visuals and introduces a series of case studies for the first time. These cases—covering family violence, behavioural economics, justice reinvestment, child protection and more—illustrate the personal and professional challenges of policymaking practice. Drawing on their extensive practical and academic experience, the authors outline the processes used in making public policy. They systematically explain the relationships between political decision makers, public service advisers, community participants and those charged with implementation.

The Australian Policy Handbook remains the essential guide for students and practitioners of policy making in Australia.

It isn''t until her boyfriend Tom heads off for his year abroad that Holly realises just how much she''s going to miss him. But Tom''s left her with rather more than just a passionate memory of their last night together. Holly''s clothes are getting tighter, she has cleavage for the first time in her life, and the sickness she thought was down to the morning-after-the-night-before is lasting all day. Holly Piper is pregnant! Suddenly thrown into an alien world of antenatal classes, stretch marks and big knickers, Holly is relieved that at least she has the support of Alice and Maggie, her two broody best friends. But what of Tom? Holly isn''t even sure how she feels about him, let alone his feelings for her. And she has no way of contacting him. A year is a long time for him to be away. But for Holly, the first nine months are going to be the hardest . . .Discover Piatkus Entice: temptation at your fingertips - www.piatkusentice.co.uk

Like most girls, Abby has always dreamed of her wedding day. When she was eight she imagined she''d look like a fairy princess. At thirteen it was the perfect meringue and yards of ivory tulle, at sixteen jeans and her favourite Doc Martins. The only constant in her wedding plans has been Nathan Priestly.Nathan was the school heartthrob and for Abby, the one that got away. Only now Nathan''s about to get married to one of Abby''s best friends and Abby is having to accept that over a decades'' worth of unrequited love will remain just that. The better part of Abby is happy for them both. She''s even volunteered to be their DJ at the reception, although her secret play-list consists of: ''Don''t Marry Her'', ''Temptation'' and the complete works of Alanis Morissette. Is Abby destined to be always the DJ and never the bride . . . ?Discover Piatkus Entice: temptation at your fingertips - www.piatkusentice.co.uk

Fans of Sophie Kinsella, Alexandra Potter and Mhairi McFarlane will love this charming read from the bestselling author of Nine Months.Do you believe in fate?When Gemma Sinclair and her best friends were fourteen, they sealed up letters containing their hopes and dreams (along with a packet of Lovehearts and a picture of Jason Donovan) in a time capsule. Now thirteen years later, Gemma stumbles upon the unopened box and the uncanny predictions her old friend Miranda had made about their futures. She had predicted the restless Fay wouldn''t find it easy to settle down, that beauty therapist Nikki would wear a white coat and that nursery teacher Gemma would be surrounded by children not her own. Gemma is inclined to dismiss this all as mere coincidence, especially as she has long since lost contact with Miranda. But when her commitment-phobic boyfriend, Adam, surprises her with a proposal, Gemma is both excited and alarmed. For though Gemma has always thought Adam was her Mr Right, Miranda had also warned her not to marry the first person who asked her . . .