European and North American Policy Change: Drivers and Dynamics

The issue of policy dynamics is a key one in policy studies and one which is particularly amenable to comparative policy research. This edited volume brings together some of the leading scholars in the field to examine the definition, conceptualization and operationalization of policy change. Drawing on empirical materials from a variety of longitudinal studies of Europe and North American policy development, this book assesses some of the major existing and unresolved issues currently challenging the discipline. It assesses existing approaches to understanding the multiplicity of drivers of policy change and provides a general map of the composite, multidimensional world of policies in action. The book features case studies on welfare reform, education reform, the World Bank, tobacco control policy, energy policy, agricultural policy, pension reform and the impact of public opinion. Features of the volume include: A focus on both the domestic and international drivers of policy change Contributions from internationally-renowned political scientists and policy experts Extensive qualitative data on policy change covering a range of different topics and countries This book will be of interest to students and scholars of public policy, public administration and public management, and political science programmes worldwide.