The Editors of the Journal of Public Policy (JPP) annually recognize an article that makes a significant contribution to one of the policy domains represented in our journal, but which also has important implications for the whole field of public policy.

The JPP Best Article Award for the best paper in Volume 42 was given to "Are policymakers responsive to public demand in climate politics?” by Lena Maria Schaffer, Bianca Oehl and Thomas Bernauer. 

For Volume 43, the award was relaunched as the Peter John Prize to recognize the contributions of Professor Peter John, FBA FAcSS, to the JPP and the field of public policy studies. Peter is widely known for his studies of policy agenda-setting; urban, local, and behavioral public policy; and policy implementation. His contributions to the JPP as Editor and then Senior Editor from 2011-2022 were transformational. Peter’s public policy scholarship is as influential as it is voluminous, and it is particularly felicitous that the highest recognition of scholarly excellence in our pages now bears his name. 

The Peter John Prize for the best article in Volume 43 was awarded to “The policy agenda effects of problem indicators: a comparative study in seven countries” by Thomas A. Kristensen, Peter B. Mortensen, Christoffer Green-Pedersen and Henrik B. Seeberg.  

The committee of field editors also selected a “runner-up” for the award: “The effect of the affordable care act and racial dynamics on federal Medicaid transfers” by Johabed G. Olvera, Candis W. Smith and Niki D. vonLockette.