ABSTRACT
Public administration distinguishes itself, though, by analysing the public sector from multiple angles in an integrated manner. In other words, it is interdisciplinary in character, synergizing knowledge from various disciplines – or, put more modestly, it is multidisciplinary, juxtaposing insights from different disciplines. Public administration is still a relatively young discipline, and research typically concentrates on finding solutions to topical issues in the public sector. Public Administration conducts research both into policy and for policy, and it studies all aspects of the policy cycle, from the very beginning of setting the policy agenda to the possible termination of a policy. Research in public administration that concentrates on policy as the subject aims to contribute to better insight into and a more efficient use of policies: the intention is to improve policy in an instrumental sense. The chapter also presents an overview on the key concepts discussed in this book.
