Policy Analysis

Question 1

Why do policy analysis?

Answer 1

Need for thoughtful impartial assessment

Avoid “shooting from the hip”

Think seriously about problems and
solutions

Question 2

is a process through which one identifies and evaluates alternative policies or programs that are intended to lessen or resolve social, economic, or physical problems.

Answer 2

Policy Analysis

Question 3

It is also an applied discipline, which uses multiple methods of inquiry and argument to produce and transform policy-relevant information that may be utilized in political settings to resolve public problems.

Answer 3

Policy Analysis

Question 4

A type of policy analysis that occurs after the fact, is descriptive and evaluative (ADE)

Answer 4

Ex post, post hoc, or
retrospective policy
analysis

• also known as supportive analysis

Question 5

A type of policy analysis that occurs before the fact, is predictive and prescriptive (BPP)

Answer 5

Ex ante, pre hoc,
prospective analysis

• Also know as DECISIONAL
  ANALYSIS

Question 6

SIX STEP POLICY ANALYSIS

Answer 6

1. Define the problem: Verify,
   define, and detail the problem
2. Establish evaluation criteria
3. Identify alternative policies
4. Evaluation alternative policies
5. Display and distinguish
   among alternative
   policies
6. Monitoring the implemented policy

Question 7

is the likelihood of achieving policy goals and objectives or demonstrated achievement of them. It is limited by our capacities to estimate uncertain projections of future events and to link the policy and anticipated outcomes in a causal relationship.

Answer 7

Effectiveness

Question 8

entails an assessment of achieving program goals or providing benefits in relation to costs. It can mean either least cost for a given benefit or largest benefit for a given cost.

Answer 8

Efficiency

Question 9

Encourages analysts to think about overall costs and benefits of existing programs and alternative proposals to change them or substitute something different.

Answer 9

Efficiency

Question 10

Serves as a way of justifying government action on the basis of economic concepts, often expressed in terms of relative virtues of government intervention and the operation of a free market in promoting social welfare.

Answer 10

Efficiency

Question 11

refers to fairness or justice in the
distribution of a policy’s cost, benefits, and
risks across population subgroups.

Answer 11

Equity

Question 12

is likely to be central to any consideration of redistributive policies, such as tax reform, access to education and health services, and assistance to low-income persons and families. It invariably arises in any policy area where debate and decisions turn on who gains and who loses as a consequence of adopting a policy and modifying an existing policy.

Answer 12

Equity

Question 13

refers to the likelihood that a department or agency can implement the policy or deliver the program well. It entails an assessment of a department’s or agency’s capacity, a projection of available resources and agency behavior that may be difficult to estimate.

Answer 13

Administrative feasibility

Question 14

refers to the likelihood that a policy would be adopted—that is, the extent to which elected officials accept and support a policy proposal. It can be difficult to determine, contingent in part on perceptions of related issues, changing economic and political conditions, and the climate of opinion about related issues.

Answer 14

Political Feasibility

Question 15

refers to the extent to which the public at large will accept and support a policy proposal. Whether the public views a policy or program as appropriate and responsive can be difficult to determine, even when public support can be measured.

Answer 15

Social acceptability

Question 16

refers to the extent to which the intervention has generated or is expected to generate significant positive or negative, intended or unintended, higher-level effects.

• WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES THE
  INTERVENTION MAKE?

Answer 16

Impact

Question 17

the extent to which the net benefits of the intervention continue, or are likely to continue.

• WILL THE BENEFITS LAST?

Answer 17

Sustainability

Question 18

The extent to which the
intervention objectives and design respond to beneficiaries, global, country, and partner/institution needs, policies, and
priorities, and continue to do so if
circumstances change.

• IS THE INTERVENTION DOING THE
  RIGHT THINGS?

Answer 18

Relevance

Question 19

1. State the problem
   meaningfully
2. Determine the magnitude and
   extent of the problem
3. Continually re-define the
   problem in light of what is
   possible
4. Eliminate irrelevant material
5. Question the accepted
   thinking about the problem
6. Question initial formulations of
   the problem
7. Say it with data
8. Locate similar policy analyses
9. Locate relevant sources of
   data
10. Eliminate ambiguity
11. Clarify objectives
12. Resolve conflicting goals
13. Focus on the central, critical
    factors
14. Is it important? Is it unusual?
    Can it be solved?
15. Identify who is concerned
    parties have?
16. What power do concerned
    parties have?

Answer 19

Verify, Define And Detail The Problem

Question 20

1. What are the important
   policy goals, and how will
   they be measured?
2. Identify criteria central to
   the problem and relevant
   to the stakeholders
3. Clarify goals, values and
   objectives
4. Identify desirable and
   undesirable outcomes
5. Is there a rank order of
   importance among the
   criteria? What will be the
   rules for comparing
   alternatives?
6. Administrative Ease
7. Costs and benefits
8. Effectiveness
9. Equity
10. Legality
11. Political acceptability

Answer 20

Establish Evaluation Criteria

Question 21

1. Consider a wide range of options
2. Consider the status quo, or no-action
   alternative
3. Consult with experts
4. Brainstorming, delphi, scenario writing
5. Redefine the problem if necessary

Answer 21

Identify Alternative Policies

Question 22

1. Select appropriate methods and apply them correctly
2. Estimate expected outcomes, effects, and impacts of each policy alternative
3. Do the predicted outcomes meet the desired goals?
4. Can some alternatives be quickly discarded
5. Continue in-depth analysis of alternatives that make the first cut

Answer 22

Assess Alternative Policies

Question 23

1. Choose a format for display
2. Show strengths and weaknesses of each
   alternative
3. Describe the best and worst case scenario for each alternative
4. Use matrices, reports, lists, charts,
   scenarios, arguments

Answer 23

Display and Distinguish Among
Alternatives

Question 24

1. Draw up a plan for implementation
2. Design monitoring system
3. Suggest design for policy evaluation
4. Was the policy properly implemented?
5. Did the policy have the intended effect(s)?

Answer 24

Implement, Monitor, And Evaluate
The Policy