Policy Analysis as Problem Solving:
​
A Flexible and Evidence Based Framework

By Rachel Meltzer and Alex Schwartz

Unlike other texts, Policy Analysis as Problem Solving (Routledge 2018) employs a pragmatic, heterodox approach to the field. Whereas most texts on policy analysis are anchored in microeconomics, prioritizing economic efficiency, this book takes a broader view, drawing from multiple disciplines, qualitative and quantitative modalities, and realistic examples to illustrate the full scope of policy analysis.  The text also has extensive downloadable resources—which include interviews, case studies, and further readings—for students to conduct simulated policy analyses of their own.

“The first edition of “Policy Analysis as Problem Solving” proved to be an excellent counterpoint to standard textbooks that focused too narrowly on the economics of policy analysis and the role of market incentives in modeling policy alternatives. The Second Edition expands with new case studies and illustrations. It provides a superior alternative textbook for instructors and students concerned about fairness and equity in producing evidence-based policy recommendations. The critique of conventional policy analysis methods is balanced and lucid and should be required reading for every serious practicing policy analyst.”
Samuel Myers Jr., Director and Professor, Roy Wilkins Center for Human Relations and Social Justice at the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota.

“The second edition of this innovative textbook leverages an interdisciplinary perspective and intuitive approach to policy analysis as 'evidence-based advice-giving'. I like the way it continues to integrate the latest insights from the behavioral sciences and design thinking and their application to public policy. And I appreciate how the book not only inspires deeper learning about policy analysis but also teaches practical skills that students can take with them as they confront the challenges of real-world policy design and implementation.”
Gregg Van Ryzin, Professor, School of Public Affairs and Administration, Rutgers University–Newark

“Meltzer and Schwartz deliver an accessible, well-organized, and contemporary introduction to public policy analysis. I use their book to teach theory courses on public policy, and the text offers just the right mix of solid scholarship and practical application. Replete with excellent examples and two running policy cases, the narrative arc of the book fits well with my students’ own development as policy professionals – they grow with Meltzer and Schwartz as the book progresses over nine chapters.”
​Justin Hollander, Professor of Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning, Tufts University

“Meltzer and Schwartz have quickly become an authority on how to help students get started. They explain the classic steps of policy analysis, show how it fits into the bigger picture of policymaking, and relate it to a push to democratise policy design. By combining these insights, Meltzer and Schwartz help students to compare policy analysis ideals and real-world dynamics.”
Paul Cairney, Professor of Politics and Public Policy, University of Stirling, UK

“Policy Analysis as Problem Solving is the ideal handbook for students seeking the skills to engage in social and public health policy analysis in real-world contexts. By integrating the conventional rational model of analysis with approaches that reflect the true complexity of politics and human behavior, Meltzer and Schwartz have crafted an accessible, flexible, and actionable framework for generating evidence-based policy recommendations that advance the social and economic determinants of health.”
​Linnea Laestadius, Associate Professor of Public Health Policy, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee

“Policy Analysis as Problem-Solving by Rachel Meltzer and Alex Schwartz is easily one of my favorite books on the subject. In this updated edition, the authors offer readers a fresh, engaging take on public problem-solving. Given the complexity of many social issues public leaders face, the emphasis on a multi-disciplinary, evidence-based approach is critically important. The case studies on the western U.S. water crisis and the burgeoning short-term housing rental market are very helpful in bringing the frameworks to life. Additionally, the expanded discussions on voting rights, child support debt, and innovative behavioral economics breathe new life into these critical topics. This book is an invaluable resource, providing a modern toolkit for students and policy professionals to effectively navigate today’s policy landscape. Highly recommended!”
Jorrit de Jong, Director, Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University and Emma Bloomberg Senior Lecturer in Public Policy and Management at Harvard Kennedy School

​"This book is exactly what is needed, by public policy students and by faculty. It includes the   breadth of analytical tools needed by the future policy analyst, within a flexible yet operative framework. By including two in-depth cases throughout the text, it also provides the instructor with the needed context to go from abstract tools to concrete, and contextually appropriate, policy advice."
Katherine M. O’Regan, Professor of Public Policy and Planning, NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, and Former Assistant Secretary, Policy Development and Research, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

"This important book introduces policy analysis as a means to social impact, not as an end itself. Policy Analysis as Problem Solving shows its readers how evidence can make a difference in solving important and often messy problems, but acknowledges the many ways that evidence can be assembled to make progress against what seem to be impossible goals. The book gives readers the chance to consider the many choices that lead to impact, while using real-world cases to show how policy analysis can create clarity in the midst of today's bitter disputes about the causes, consequences, and possible solutions to what often seem to be intractable problems. This well-written, smoothly presented book is well-designed to become the standard text for policy analysis courses for the next generation of problem solvers." 
Paul C. Light, Professor Emeritus of Public Service, Robert Wagner School of Public Service, New York University

"Rachel Meltzer and Alex Schwartz finally offer faculty a pragmatic and accessible approach to policy analysis for our students in their new book, Policy Analysis as Problem Solving. Throughout the book, Meltzer and Schwartz are particularly adept at contextualizing a particular topic and explaining its significance. The volume also marries the theoretical with the practical [and] provides students with the theory they need to know, but helps facilitate the understanding and retention of that theory with practical application and examples. … Ultimately, Meltzer and Schwartz’s book would make a fantastic addition to the reading list of any policy analysis or public policy process course. "
Michelle Pautz, Book Review in Journal of Public Affairs Education (2020)