Governing by Numbers

Edward C Page is Sidney and Beatrice Webb Professor of Public Policy at the LSE and a Fellow of the British Academy.

• Part 1 Politics in seclusion: but is it politics?; it's politics, but not as we know it; the character of secluded politics; moving out of seclusion; illuminating the obscurity. Part 2 Examining the instrument: what are statutory instruments?; not new, but increasingly important; how SIs are made - the formalities; court and delegated legislation; conclusions. Part 3 The stuff of everyday politics: reading the labels; subjects covered and ministries concerned; political action and SIs; high politics, low politics and SIs; how much of political importance is involved and delegated legislation?. Part 4 The origins of regulations: different types of SI; where do the initiatives come from?; conclusions. Part 5 Ministers on top: what gets referred to ministers and when; delegated legislation - the domain of the junior minister; the nature of ministerial involvement; the muffled impact of parties; conclusions. Part 6 Drafting SIs - the joint effort of administrators and lawyers: administrators' roles; lawyers' roles; conclusions. Part 7 Consulting outside interests: contrasting consultative processes; is consultation inclusive?; responding to consultations; conclusions. Part 8 The discreet impact of parliamentary scrutiny: the joint committee on statutory instruments; scrutiny of policy; assessing the impact of parliament; conclusions. Part 9 Everyday politics and high politics: understanding everyday government; forms of bias; the relationship between everyday and high politics; governing in a nether world; appendices.

Governing by numbers is an interesting and significant examination of policy-making and law-making at the operating level. well-executed study at the conclusion of the book, the reader feels that he has a firm grasp of what was heretofore an unknown and obscure arena of policy-making. The quality of the writing is also very good. The book is well organized and integrated. Overall, this book makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of an important venue of policy-making. The field can benefit from systematic work like this, focused on the adoption of regulations that constitute the bulk of law that really impacts most people. Charles Wise, Indiana University Governance March 2001