Publisher's Synopsis
In the context of American politics, this volume seeks to dispel two powerful "myths of bureaucracy": the belief that the federal bureaucracy is unresponsive to government and the belief that democracy itself is imperiled by an out-of-control bureaucratic process. The authors contend that the process is in fact a highly dynamic and democratic one. Offering case studies and well-paired figures and tables (presented in both technical and non-technical fashion), the book uses principal-agent theory to explain how the public policy system works. High-profile cases of eight federal agencies from the EPA to the FDA and discussions of major legislation, such as the Clean Air Act, help the authors provide a new perspective on the overall bureaucratic process for students, for professionals of the bureaucracy, public policy, administration, and government regulation.
