Journal of Policy Analysis and Management

Journal of Policy Analysis and Management is a peer-reviewed academic journal covering policy research and policy analysis. It publishes empirical studies, methodological articles, and policy evaluations, engaging scholars, practitioners, and policymakers. The journal serves as a platform connecting the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, academic institutions, think tanks, and government agencies.

History

The journal was founded in 1981 under the aegis of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management during a period of expansion in applied social science publishing alongside outlets such as American Economic Review, Journal of Political Economy, Quarterly Journal of Economics, and Public Administration Review. Early editorial leadership drew contributors from universities like Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University, and University of Chicago, and from policy organizations including the Brookings Institution and the Rand Corporation. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s the journal featured work referencing regulatory developments such as the Tax Reform Act of 1986 and debates influenced by figures connected to the Reagan Administration and the Clinton Administration. Special issues have examined landmark programs and events tied to Medicaid, Social Security, No Child Left Behind Act, and Affordable Care Act debates, while authors have cited comparative studies involving Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development members and analyses relevant to the European Union and United Kingdom policy reforms.

Scope and Content

The journal publishes empirical research, randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental designs, cost-benefit analyses, and methodological innovations relevant to policy questions addressed by agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Article topics commonly intersect with scholarship from the National Bureau of Economic Research, the London School of Economics, and centers such as the Urban Institute and the Pew Research Center. Contributions have engaged with programs and issues including Head Start, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Medicare Part D, and international policy interventions in countries such as Canada, Australia, Germany, and Japan. The journal also publishes criticism and commentary referencing landmark works like Freakonomics and policy analyses associated with scholars from Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Columbia University, and University of California, Berkeley.

Editorial and Publication Details

Published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, the journal follows standard peer-review procedures with editorial boards composed of faculty from institutions such as Duke University, Cornell University, University of Michigan, and Brown University. Editors have come from prominent departments and policy schools including the Harvard Kennedy School, the Goldman School of Public Policy, and the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University. The publication cadence is quarterly, with occasional special issues guest-edited by scholars affiliated with organizations like the American Enterprise Institute and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Submission guidelines and ethical standards align with practices endorsed by associations including the Committee on Publication Ethics and citation norms common to journals like Science and Nature when cross-disciplinary methods are employed.

Abstracting and Indexing

The journal is indexed in major bibliographic databases and citation services such as EBSCOhost, ProQuest, Scopus, and Web of Science. It is listed in disciplinary indexes alongside titles like Journal of Public Economics and Policy Studies Journal, and is discoverable through library catalogs at institutions such as the Library of Congress and the British Library. Abstracting services used by researchers at organizations including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development facilitate access for analysts and policymakers.

Impact and Reception

The journal is regarded as influential within applied policy research, frequently cited by scholars affiliated with the National Bureau of Economic Research, authors in outlets like The Journal of Human Resources and Demography, and referenced in testimony before bodies such as the United States Congress and committees connected to the United States Senate Committee on Finance. Citation metrics place it among leading policy journals alongside Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory and American Journal of Political Science for research impact. The journal's articles have informed policy decisions and have been discussed in media outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Economist, and broadcasts on NPR. Critics and advocates across the political spectrum—from think tanks like the Heritage Foundation and Cato Institute to advocacy organizations such as AARP and Children's Defense Fund—have engaged with its findings in policy debates.

Category:Public policy journals