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Public Policy Section Award Recipients

More on the Public Policy section

Aaron Wildavsky Enduring Contribution Award
Best Comparative Policy Paper Award
Best Poster on Public Policy Award
Best Paper on Public Policy Award
Excellence in Mentoring Award
Hubert H. Humphrey Award
Harold Lasswell Award
Theodore J. Lowi Policy Studies Journal Best Article Award
Award for Distinguished Contribution



Aaron Wildavsky Enduring Contribution Award

The Aaron Wildavsky Enduring Contribution Award is given for the best book or article published in the general area of public policy during the past twenty (20) plus years. The book or article should have had a major impact on the field. This award carries a $500 prize.

2023 Joe Soss, University of Minnesota
Disciplining the Poor: Neoliberalism and the Persistent Power of Race. University of Chicago Press, 2011.
2023 Richard C. Fording, University of Alabama
Disciplining the Poor: Neoliberalism and the Persistent Power of Race. University of Chicago Press, 2011.
2023 Sanford Schram, Hunter College, CUNY
Disciplining the Poor: Neoliberalism and the Persistent Power of Race. University of Chicago Press, 2011.
2022 Jacob Hacker, Yale University
The Divided Welfare State: The Battle over Public and Private Social Benefits in the United States. Cambridge University Press, 2002.
2021 Andrea Campbell, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
How Policies Make Citizens. Princeton University Press, 2003.
2020

Thomas A. Birkland, North Carolina State University
After Disaster: Agenda Setting, Public Policy, and Focusing Events. Georgetown University Press, 1997.

2019 James Mahoney, Northwestern University
A Theory of Gradual Institutional Change. Explaining Institutional Change: Ambiguity, Agency and Power. Cambridge University Press, 2010.
2019 Kathleen Thelen, The Massachusetts Institute of Technology
A Theory of Gradual Institutional Change. Explaining Institutional Change: Ambiguity, Agency and Power. Cambridge University Press, 2010.
2018 R. Kent Weaver, Georgetown University
"The Politics of Blame Avoidance." Journal of Public Policy, 1986.
2017  Frank Fischer, Rutgers University
Reframing Public Policy. Oxford University Press, 2003.
2016  Robert D. Putnam, Harvard University
Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. Simon and Schuster, 2001.
 2015 James C. Scott, Yale University
Seeing Like A State: How Certain Schemes to Improve the Human Condition Have Failed. Yale University Press, 1998 
2013 Theda Skocpol, Harvard University
Protecting Soldiers and Mothers: The Political Origins of Social Policy in the United States (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1992)
2012 Lester Salamon, Johns Hopkins University
Partners in Public Service: Government-Nonprofit Relations in the Modern Welfare State (Johns Hopkins University Press,1995)
2011 Paul Pierson, University of California, Berkeley
"Increasing Returns, Path Dependence, and the Study of Politics,"
2009 Peter Hall, University of Washington
Governing the Economy: The Politics of State Intervention in Britain and France (Oxford University, 1986)
2009 Jennifer Hochschild, University of Washington
The Shifting Politics of Multiracialism in the United States
2008  Anne L. Schneider, University of Arizona
Policy Designs for Democracy (University Press of Kansas, 1997) 
2008  Helen Ingram, University of Arizona
Policy Designs for Democracy (University Press of Kansas, 1997) 
2006 Charles Lindblom, Yale University
Politics and Markets: The World's Political Economic Systems (Basic Books, 1977)
2005 Gosta Esping-Anderson, European University Institute
The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism (Princeton University Press, 1990).
2004 James March, Stanford University
Rediscovering Institutions: The Organizational Basis of Politics (New York: The Free Press, 1989)
2004 Johan Olsen, ARENA, University of Oslo
Co-Authored with James March: Rediscovering Institutions: The Organizational Basis of Politics (New York: The Free Press, 1989)
2004 James March, Stanford University
Co-Authored with Johan P. Olsen, University of Oslo: Rediscovering Institutions: The Organizational Basis of Politics (Free Press, 1989
2003 Martha Derthick, University of Virginia
The Politics of Deregulation (Brookings Institution Press, 1985)
2003 Paul Quirk, University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign
The Politics of Deregulation (Brookings Institution Press 1985)
2002 Deborah Stone, Dartmouth College
Policy Paradox: The Art of Political Decision-Making (W.W. Norton, 1988)
2001 Frank Baumgartner, Pennsylvania State University
Agendas and Instability in American Politics (University of Chicago Press, 1993)
2001 Bryan Jones, University of Washington
Agendas and Instability in American Politics (University of Chicago Press, 1993)
2000 Elinor Ostrom, Indiana University
Governing the Commons: The Evolution of Institutions for Collective Action (Cambridge University Press, 1990)
1999 Michael Lipsky, Ford Foundation
Street-Level Bureaucracy (Russell Sage, 1980)
1998 Roger Cobb, Brown University
Participation in American Politics: The Dynamics of Agenda Building (Johns Hopkins University Press, 1983)
1998 Charles Elder, Wayne State University
Participation in American Politics: The Dynamics of Agenda Building (Johns Hopkins University Press, 1983)
1997 Daniel Mazmanian, University of Michigan
Implementation and Public Policy (Rowman & Littlefield, 1989)
1997 Paul Sabatier, University of California-Davis
Implementation and Public Policy (Rowman & Littlefield, 1989)
1996 James Wilson, University of California-Los Angeles
The Politics of Regulation (Basic Books, 1980)
1994 John Kingdon, University of Michigan
Agendas, Alternatives, and Public Policy (Addison-Wesley Pub Co, 1997; 2nd Edition)
1989 David Ellwood, Harvard University
Poor Support (Basic Books, 1989)

Best Comparative Policy Paper Award

The Best Comparative Policy Paper Award recognizes an article of particular distinction published in the area of comparative public policy, awarded in collaboration with the International Comparative Policy Analysis Forum. This award carries a prize of $500.

2023 Guillermo Toral, IE University
"Political Bureaucractic Cycle: Public Employment and Service Delivery around Elections in Brazil"
2022 Ling Chen, Johns Hopkins University SAIS
"Capital Mobility and Taxation in Non-OECD Countries: Evidence from China"
2022 Florian Hollenbach, Texas A&M University
"Capital Mobility and Taxation in Non-OECD Countries: Evidence from China"
2020 Tugba Bozcaga, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
“The Social Bureaucrat: How Social Proximity among Bureaucrats Affects Local Governance in Turkey." APSA annual meeting (2019).
2019 Agustina Paglayan, University of California, San Diego
“Democracy and Educational Expansion: Evidence from 200 years.” Unpublished manuscript.
2018 Amelia Peterson, Harvard University
"Incentivizing higher skills - but whose? The politics of credential reform in Liberal Market Economies."
2017  Melani Cammett, Harvard University
"Political Context, Organizational Mission and the Quality of Social Services: Insights from the Health Sector in Lebanon." 
2017  Aytug Sasmaz, Brown University
"Political Context, Organizational Mission and the Quality of Social Services: Insights from the Health Sector in Lebanon."  
2016  Daniel Treisman, University of California, Los Angeles
“Misperceiving Inequality”
2016  Vladimir Gimpelson, Higher School of Economics
“Misperceiving Inequality”
2015  Zachary Elkins, University of Texas-Austin
“Micro-Level Foundations of Diffusion Theory: Experimental Evidence”  
2013 Matthias Orlowski, Humboldt-University Berlin
The Dynamics of Electoral Incentives. Electoral Systems and Agricultural Support in OECD countries paper prepared for the 2012 APSA Annual Meeting
2012 Claire Annesley, University of Manchester
2012 Isabelle Engeli, University of Ottawa
2011 Shaun Bevan, Pennsylvania State University
"Opinion-Responsiveness of Governing Agendas in the US and the UK: Institutional Filtering of Issue Priorities of the Public"
2011 Will Jennings, University of Manchester
"Opinion-Responsiveness of Governing Agendas in the US and the UK: Institutional Filtering of Issue Priorities of the Public"

Best Poster on Public Policy Award

The Best Poster on Public Policy Award is given for the best paper or poster presented at the poster session at the previous APSA meeting. This award carries a prize of $500.

2020 Renu Singh, Georgetown University
“What Makes a Changemaker?" APSA annual meeting (2019).
2019 Wenhui Feng, The State University of New York at Albany
"Variation in Local Health Departments’ Involvement in Implementing Obesity Policies." Unpublished manuscript.
2019 Erika G. Martin, The State University of New York at Albany
"Variation in Local Health Departments’ Involvement in Implementing Obesity Policies." Unpublished manuscript.
2017  Philip Rocco,  Marquette University
"The Politics of Trial and Error: Medicare Demonstrations and Policy Change."
2017  Andrew Kelly,  Johns Hopkins University
"The Politics of Trial and Error: Medicare Demonstrations and Policy Change."
2016  Mallory SoRelle , Cornell University
“Information v. Ideology: Recognizing (Government) Benefits in the Submerged State.”
2016  Delphia Shanks-Booth , Cornell University
“Information v. Ideology: Recognizing (Government) Benefits in the Submerged State.”
2015  Ellen Donnelly, University of Pennsylvania
“In Pursuit of Racial Justice: Assessing the Politics and Consequences of Racial Disparity Reform in the U.S. Criminal Justice System.”
2013 Nathan Mitchell, Prairie View A&M University
"U.S. State Soveringn Debt Restrictions in the 50 States."
2013 Jake Haselswerdt, George Washington University
Death and Tax Breaks: Comparing the Survival Rates of Tax Expenditures and Direct Spending Programs.
2012 Lindsay Flynn, University of Virginia
"The Work-Family Tradeoff: How Some Countries are Managing Better than Others."

Best Paper on Public Policy Award

The Best Paper on Public Policy Award recognizes the best paper on Public Policy given at the previous APSA Annual Meeting. This award carries a $500 prize.

2023 Sam Workman, West Virginia University
“County Budgetary Dynamics: Findings from Appalachia”
2023 Herschel “Trey” Thomas, West Virginia University
“County Budgetary Dynamics: Findings from Appalachia”
2023 Corinne Connor, West Virginia University
“County Budgetary Dynamics: Findings from Appalachia”
2022 Leslie Finger, University of North Texas
"Politics, Markets, and Pandemics: Public Education's Response to COVID-19."
2022 Michael Hartney, Boston College
"Politics, Markets, and Pandemics: Public Education's Response to COVID-19."
2021 Jonas Meckling, University of California, Berkeley

“Strategic State Capacity: How States Counter Opposition to Climate Policy.” Presented at APSA 2020.

2021 Jonas Nahm, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies

“Strategic State Capacity: How States Counter Opposition to Climate Policy.” Presented at APSA 2020.

2021

Natalia Bueno, Emory University
“Homeowners Unite? Homeownership, Values and Voice.” Presented at APSA 2020.

2021 Felipe Nunes, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
“Homeowners Unite? Homeownership, Values and Voice.” Presented at APSA 2020.
2021 Cesar Zucco, Fundacao Getulio Vargas
“Homeowners Unite? Homeownership, Values and Voice.” Presented at APSA 2020.
2020 Mallory SoRelle, Lafayette College
“Privatizing Financial Protection: Policy Feedback in the Credit Welfare State." APSA annual meeting (2019).
2019 Jake Grumbach , University of Washington
"When Governments only Learn From Co-partisans: Partisan Policy Diffusion." Unpublished manuscript.
2018 Laurel Eckhouse, University of Denver
"Everyday Risk: Dispraate Exposure and Racial Inequalities in Police Violence."
2017  Melissa Sands, Harvard University
"Who wants to tax a millionaire? Exposure to inequality reduces support for redistribution"
2016  Daniel Galvin, Northwestern University
“Wage Theft, Public Policy, and the Politics of Workers’ Rights”
2015  Alexandra Filindra, Cornell University
“A Call to Arms: White Identity and Gun Control Policy Preferences in Post-Civil Rights America”
2015 Noah Kaplan, University of Illinois-Chicago
“A Call to Arms: White Identity and Gun Control Policy Preferences in Post-Civil Rights America”
2014  Alan S. Gerber, Yale University 
“Felony status, Participation, and Political Reintegration: Results from a field experiment”
2014  Gregory A. Huber, Yale University 
“Felony status, Participation, and Political Reintegration: Results from a field experiment”
2014 Marc Meredith, University of Pennsylvania
“Felony status, Participation, and Political Reintegration: Results from a field experiment” 
2014  Daniel R. Biggers, Yale University
“Felony status, Participation, and Political Reintegration: Results from a field experiment” 
2014  David J. Hendry, Yale University
“Felony status, Participation, and Political Reintegration: Results from a field experiment” 
2014  Daniel Aldrich, Purdue University
"Social, Not Physical, Infrastructure: The Critical Role of Civil Society in Disaster Recovery" 
2011  Susan Moffitt, Brown University
 "The Politics of Bad News: Politics, Policy and Practice in K-12 Education"
2011  David Cohen, University of Michigan
"The Politics of Bad News: Politics, Policy and Practice in K-12 Education" 
2010  Eric Patashnik, University of Virginia
"When Policy Does Not Remake Politics: The Limits of Policy Feedback" 
2010  Julian Zelizer, Princeton University
"When Policy Does Not Remake Politics: The Limits of Policy Feedback" 
2006  Richard Fording, University of Kentucky
"The Color of Devolution: The Politics of Local Punishment in the New World of Welfare" 
2006  Sanford Schram, Bryn Mawr College
"The Color of Devolution: The Politics of Local Punishment in the New World of Welfare" 
2006  Joe Soss, University of Wisconsin, Madison
"The Color of Devolution: The Politics of Local Punishment in the New World of Welfare" 
2005  Karen Mossberger, Kent State University
"Race, Place, and Information Technology" 
2005  Caroline Tolbert, Kent State University
"Race, Place, and Information Technology" 
2005  Michele Gilbert, Kent State University
"Race, Place, and Information Technology" 
2004  Craig Volden, Ohio State University
"States as Policy Laboratories: Experimenting with the Children's Health Insurance Program" 
2003  Soeren Winter, Danish National Institute of Social Research
"Explaining Variation in Street-Level Bureaucratic Behaviors in Social and Regulatory Policies" 
1989  Trudi Miller, Lehigh University
"Designing Social Structures: A Scientific Perspective" 
   

Excellence in Mentoring Award

The Excellence in Mentoring Award has been established to recognize sustained efforts by a senior scholars to encourage and facilitate the career of emerging political scientists in the field of Public Policy. This award carries a $500 prize.

2023 James Garand, Louisiana State University
2022 Loleen Berdahl, University of Saskatchewan
2021 Richard Hall, University of Michigan
2019 Amanda Bittner, Memorial University of Newfoundland
2018 Bruce Cain, Stanford University
2018 Julia Lynch, University of Pennsylvania
2017  David Weimer, University of Wisconsin-Madison
2015  Karen M. Hult, Virginia Tech 
2012 John Witte, University of Wisconsin-Madison
2011 Bryan Jones, University of Texas Austin
2010 Theda Skocpol, Harvard University
2009 Paul Sabatier, University of California, Davis
2006 Kenneth Meier, Texas A&M University
2005 Frank Baumgartner, Pennsylvania State University

Hubert H. Humphrey Award

1989 Charles Levine

Harold Lasswell Award

The Harold D. Lasswell prize is awarded annually by the American Political Science Association for the best dissertation in the field of public policy. It is co-sponsored by the Policy Studies Association and the APSA Public Policy Section. The award carries a $1,000 prize.

2014 Sarah Anzia,Stanford University
“Election Timing and the Political Influence of the Organized."
2013 Nicholas Carnes, Duke University
"By the Upper Class, For the Upper Class? Representational Inequality and Economic Policymaking in the United States."

Theodore J. Lowi Policy Studies Journal Best Article

The Theodore J. Lowi Policy Studies Journal Best Article Award is given to recognize an article of particular distinction published at any time in Policy Studies Journal. This award carries a prize of $500.

2023 Saba Siddiki, Syracuse University
“Institutional Analysis with the Institutional Grammar.” 2022. Policy Studies Journal, 50(2): 315-339.
2023 Tanya Heikkila, University of Colorado Denver
“Institutional Analysis with the Institutional Grammar.” 2022. Policy Studies Journal, 50(2): 315-339.
2023 Christopher M. Weible, University of Colorado Denver
“Institutional Analysis with the Institutional Grammar.” 2022. Policy Studies Journal, 50(2): 315-339.
2023 Raul Pacheco-Vega, Centro de Investigacion y Docencia Economicas
“Institutional Analysis with the Institutional Grammar.” 2022. Policy Studies Journal, 50(2): 315-339.
2023 David Carter, University of Utah
“Institutional Analysis with the Institutional Grammar.” 2022. Policy Studies Journal, 50(2): 315-339.
2023 Cali Curley, University of Miami
“Institutional Analysis with the Institutional Grammar.” 2022. Policy Studies Journal, 50(2): 315-339.
2023 Aaron Deslatte, Indiana University
“Institutional Analysis with the Institutional Grammar.” 2022. Policy Studies Journal, 50(2): 315-339.
2023 Abigail Bennett, Michigan State University
“Institutional Analysis with the Institutional Grammar.” 2022. Policy Studies Journal, 50(2): 315-339.
2022 Ursula Hackett, Royal Holloway, University of London
"Attenuated Governance: How Policymakers Insulate Private School Choice from Legal Challenge"
2021

Sarah E. Anderson, University of California, Santa Barbara
“Policy entrepreneurs, legislators, and agenda setting: information and influence.” Policy Studies Journal, 2020.

2021 Rob A. DeLeo, Bentley University
“Policy entrepreneurs, legislators, and agenda setting: information and influence.” Policy Studies Journal, 2020.
2021 Kristin O’Donovan, Wayne State University
“Policy entrepreneurs, legislators, and agenda setting: information and influence.” Policy Studies Journal, 2020.

2020

Daniel Mallinson, Penn State-Harrisburg
“Who Are Your Neighbors? The Role of Ideology and Decline of Geographic Proximity in the Diffusion of Policy Innovations." Policy Studies Journal.
2019 Anne L. Schneider, Arizona State University
"Social Constructions, Anticipatory Feedback Strategies, and Deceptive Public Policy." Policy Studies Journal 47(2): 206-236.
2019 Helen M. Ingram, University of California, Irvine
"Social Constructions, Anticipatory Feedback Strategies, and Deceptive Public Policy." Policy Studies Journal 47(2): 206-236.
2018 Manuel Fischer, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology
“Drivers for Policy Agreement in Nascent Subsystems: An Application of the Advocacy Coalition Framework to Fracking Policy in Switzerland and the UK.” Policy Studies Journal. 45(3).
2018 Karin Ingold, University of Bern
“Drivers for Policy Agreement in Nascent Subsystems: An Application of the Advocacy Coalition Framework to Fracking Policy in Switzerland and the UK.” Policy Studies Journal. 45(3).
2017 Hongtao Yi, The Ohio State University
"Policy Networks in Complex Governance Subsystems: Observing and Comparing Hyperlink, Media, and Partnership Networks." Policy Studies Journal, 44(3): 248-279.
2017  John Scholz, Florida State University 
"Policy Networks in Complex Governance Subsystems: Observing and Comparing Hyperlink, Media, and Partnership Networks." Policy Studies Journal, 44(3): 248-279.
2016 Elizabeth Rigby, George Washington University
“Laboratories of (In)equality? Redistributive Policy and Income Inequality in the American States” Policy Studies Journal. 43(2): 163-187. May 2015.
2016 Megan E. Hatch, Cleveland State University
“Laboratories of (In)equality? Redistributive Policy and Income Inequality in the American States” Policy Studies Journal. 43(2): 163-187. May 2015
2015 Jeronimo Cortina, University of Houston
“Subsidizing Migration? Mexican Agricultural Policies and Migration to the United States.” Policy Studies Journal. 42 (1) 2014: 101-21.
2014 Evan Ringquist,Indiana University
“Campaign Promises, Democratic Governance, and Environmental Policy in the U.S. Congress."  Policy Studies Journal  41(2): 365–387.
2014 Milena Neshkova, Florida International University
“Campaign Promises, Democratic Governance, and Environmental Policy in the U.S. Congress." Policy Studies Journal  41(2): 365–387.
2014 Joseph Aamidor, Indiana University
“Campaign Promises, Democratic Governance, and Environmental Policy in the U.S. Congress." Policy Studies Journal  41(2): 365–387.
2014 Christian Breunig, University of Konstanz
"The Tortoise or the Hare? Incrementalism, Punctuations, and Their Consequences." Policy Studies Journal 40(1): 45-67.
2013 Chris Koski, Reed College
"The Tortoise or the Hare? Incrementalism, Punctuations, and Their Consequences." Policy Studies Journal 40(1): 45-67.
2012 Peter May, University of Washington
"Constructing Homeland Security: An Anemic Policy Regime." Policy Studies Journal 39(2).
2012 Ashley Jochim, University of Washington
"Constructing Homeland Security: An Anemic Policy Regime." Policy Studies Journal 39(2).
2012 Joshua Sapotichne, Michigan State University
"Constructing Homeland Security: An Anemic Policy Regime." Policy Studies Journal 39(2).
2011 Deborah Phillips, Georgetown University
"Head Start's Comparative Advantage: Myth or Reality?"
2011 William Gormley Jr., Georgetown University
"Head Start's Comparative Advantage: Myth or Reality?”
2011 Shirley Adelstein, Georgetown University
"Head Start's Comparative Advantage: Myth or Reality?”
2011 Catherine Snow, Federal Bureau of Investigation
"Head Start's Comparative Advantage: Myth or Reality?”

Award for Distinguished Contribution 

The Award for Distinguished Contribution recognizes creative policy analysis that has had a significant influence on the course of American public policy.

1993             

Mollie Orshansky, Social Security Administration