Models of public policy implementation proliferated during the 1970s and 1980s. We argue that these models should be robust across different time periods and should accurately postdict and explain the outcomes known to have occurred. This article looks at two models of policy implementation, one developed by Mazmanian and Sabatier and another developed by Nakwnura and Smallwood. Robustness and explanatory ability of these models are assessed using a historical case study of the first national child labor law. This demonstrates the advantages of a historical perspective on policy implementation. Looking at policy across time raises questions about current models of implementation.
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