ARTICLES WERE DRAWN FROM THE JOURNALS OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCE DISCIPLINES AND MAJOR POLICY ANALYSIS JOURNALS AND SOLICITED FROM THE PRIMARY POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTES AND CENTERS. THE STUDIES INCLUDED CONTRIBUTE TO IDENTIFYING AND UNDERSTANDING THE MOTIVES FOR POLICY ACTION, THE OBJECTIVES FOR WHICH POLICY ACTION SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE, AND POLICY ACTIONS WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO ATTAINMENT OF THE OBJECTIVES. VARIOUS APPROACHES TO AN EFFECTIVE ANTI-INFLATION POLICY ARE DISCUSSED, INCLUDING SUCH ANTI-INFLATION TOOLS AS WAGE AND PRICE CONTROLS AND 'TAX-BASED INCOME POLICY.' THE LACK OF AGREEMENT AMONG THESE ESSAYS CONCERNING SHORT-RUN ANTI-INFLATION POLICY ILLUSTRATES THE UNSETTLED STATE OF THE ECONOMICS PROFESSION. THE ISSUE OF ECONOMIC REGULATION IS DEBATED AS IT HAS BEEN APPLIED IN THE TRUCKING AND AIRLINE INDUSTRIES, AND ITS IMPACT ON ENERGY POLICY IS CONSIDERED. ARTICLES ON POLLUTION CONTROL POLICY OFFER ALTERNATIVES TO THE DIRECT REGULATORY NATURE OF EXISTING AIR AND WATER QUALITY POLICY AND ADDRESS THE SPATIALLY DIFFERENTIATED NATURE OF THE POLLUTION PROBLEM. DISCUSSIONS ON INCOME SUPPORT POLICY AND LABOR MARKET POLICY FOCUS ON THE CARTER ADMINISTRATION'S WELFARE REFORM PROPOSALS. THE GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IN HEALTH CARE PLANNING IS THE FOCAL POINT OF ANOTHER SET OF ESSAYS ON HEALTH CARE COSTS. TAXATION POLICY AND PUBLIC SECTOR LIMITS (THE TAXPAYERS' REVOLT, THE EFFECT OF PROPOSITION 13) AND EDUCATION POLICY (FINANCIAL BURDEN OF COLLEGE EXPENSES FOR MIDDLE-INCOME FAMILIES, SCHOOL DESEGREGATION) ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. FINALLY, ESSAYS ON CRIME POLICY AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM FOCUS ON THE GUN CONTROL DEBATE, COURT PROCESSING DELAYS, AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCE TECHNIQUES TO IMPROVE THE JUDICIAL PROCESS. FOOTNOTES, REFERENCES, AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA ACCOMPANY MOST OF THE ESSAYS. (WJR)