Books in the Public Policy and Politics series

This important new work updates the arguments of Christopher Hood's classic work The Tools of Government for the Twenty-First century. Comprehensively revised throughout, it includes increased coverage of how government gets information and an assessment of how the tools available to government have changed over time.

This wide-ranging book sets discussion of the various approaches to local government decentralisation in the context of the changing nature of public service management and the possibilities for new kinds of public involvement in government decision-making.

The introduction of market mechanisms and a new public management are transforming government and public service throughout the world.

Systematically updated throughout, the 6th edition of this leading text takes the story of health policy to the end of the Blair era and into the early years of the Brown premiership. It offers a clear and thorough introduction to the history of the NHS, its funding and priorities, and to the process of policy making.

This new edition has been updated to reflect recent shifts in community and social care whilst still providing the authoritative account of its historical development. Particular attention is paid to partnerships between health and social care, the regulation of social care, direct payments and individual budgets and user/carer empowerment.

This comprehensively revised and updated new edition of the leading text in the field provides full coverage of the historical, political and European context of British transport policy, of the new financial and regulatory regimes of the Twenty-first century and of the impact of such major new initiatives as London's congestion charge.

Substantial new sections have been added on local political parties, hung councils, the politics of non-elected local government, recent developments in privatisation, and the politics of the poll tax.

This important new work updates the arguments of Christopher Hood's classic work The Tools of Government for the Twenty-First century. Comprehensively revised throughout, it includes increased coverage of how government gets information and an assessment of how the tools available to government have changed over time.

Housing Policy in the UK is a major new textbook that traces the emergence of a 'new comprehensive housing policy' in the wake of the Communities Plan and regionalisation. Grounded in cutting-edge research and analysis, it provides a clear account of the evolution and current dimensions and tensions at the heart of this policy.

The idea of community involvement and empowerment has become central to politics in recent years. Governments, keen to reduce public spending and increase civic involvement, believe active communities are essential for tackling a range of social, economic and political challenges, such as crime, sustainable development and the provision of care. Public Policy in the Community examines the way that community and the ideas associated with it - civil society, social capital, mutuality, networks - have been understood and applied from the 1960s to the present day. Marilyn Taylor examines the issues involved in putting the community at the heart of policy making, and considers the political and social implications of such a practice. Drawing on a wide range of relevant examples from around the world, the book considers the success of existing approaches and the prospects for further developments. Thoroughly updated to reflect advances in research and practice, the new edition of this important text gives a state-of-the-art assessment of the place of community in public policy.

The Politics of Leisure Policy provides a systematic account of the impact of social, economic and cultural change on the demand for leisure and of the response of politicians, professionals, and service providers.

Established as the leading text in the field, this thoroughly revised and updated edition provides a comprehensive account of the current issues, set in a clear historical context.