9780872899520

Just when you thought a great book couldn&BAD:rs"t get any better, Eugene Bardach improves his &BAD:"gem&BAD:" of a handbook. Presenting dozens of concrete tips, interesting case studies, and step-by-step strategies for the budding analyst as well as the seasoned professional, Bardach&BAD:rs"s eightfold approach encapsulates more than 20 years of teaching and guiding students towards effective, accurate, and persuasive policy analysis.Some of the enhancements to this edition?A separate appendix that provides sample questions for policy analysts to ask about public and nonprofit institutions in order to aid their analysis and implementation. New attention to troubleshooting problems&BAD:-how to avoid linguistic pitfalls, confusing &BAD:"alternatives&BAD:" and &BAD:"criteria,&BAD:" and projecting outcomes that lead to design problems. Expanded coverage of cost-effectiveness analysis (including a new excerpt from a RAND Corporation report). Explanation of evidence and justification, as well as additional semantic tips in the appendices Readers will also find a sample document of real world policy analysis, a primer in how to &BAD:"talk the talk&BAD:" of policy analysis, and a cheat sheet of strategies for solving a host of policy problems.

Preface	p. xi
Introduction	p. XV
The Eightfold Path	p. xvi
Overview of the Book	p. xix

The Eightfold Path	p. 1
Define the Problem	p. 1
Assemble Some Evidence	p. 10
Construct the Alternatives	p. 15
Select the Criteria	p. 26
Project the Outcomes	p. 38
Confront the Trade-offs	p. 52
Decide!	p. 56
Tell Your Story	p. 57

Assembling Evidence	p. 65
Getting Started	p. 66
Locating Relevant Sources	p. 68
Gaining Access and Engaging Assistance	p. 75
Conducting a Policy Research Interview	p. 80
Using Language to Characterize and Calibrate	p. 88
Protecting Credibility	p. 89
Strategic Dilemmas of Policy Research	p. 92

"Smart (Best) Practices" Research: Understanding and Making Use of What Look Like Good Ideas From Somewhere Else	p. 95
Develop Realistic Expectations	p. 95
Analyze Smart Practices	p. 96
Observe the Practice	p. 101
Describe Generic Vulnerabilities	p. 105
But Will It Work Here?	p. 107
Back to the Eightfold Path	p. 109

Specimen of A Real-World Policy Analysis	p. 111
Preface	p. 111
Summary	p. 112

Things Governments Do	p. 127
Taxes	p. 127
Regulation	p. 128
Subsidies and Grants	p. 129
Service Provision	p. 130
Agency Budgets	p. 131
Information	p. 131
The Structure of Private Rights	p. 132
The Framework of Economic Activity	p. 133
Education and Consultation	p. 133
Financing and Contracting	p. 134
Bureaucratic and Political Reforms	p. 135

Understanding Public and Nonprofit Institutions: Asking the Right Questions	p. 137
Mission	p. 137
Environment	p. 137
Performance Measurement	p. 138
Technology	p. 139
Production/Delivery Processes	p. 140
Front-line Workers and Co-Producers	p. 140
Partners and Other Outsiders	p. 141
Centralization/Decentralization	p. 141
Culture and Communications	p. 142
Politics	p. 142
Leadership	p. 142
Change	p. 143

Strategic Advice on the Dynamics of Political Support	p. 145
References	p. 153
Index	p. 155
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

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A Practical Guide for Policy Analysis: The Eightfold Path to More Effective Problem Solving

A Practical Guide for Policy Analysis: The Eightfold Path to More Effective Problem Solving

0872899527

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