Public policy is enacted with the vision to govern the particular sector fairly and achieve optimal social welfare. Is it possible to develop some holistic indicators that particularly identifies the impact of public policy in absolute as well as in relative terms?
What is your opinion to really measure the impact of public policy?
How do we detect whether there is an issue with policy provision(s) or implementation strategy?
The aims (or purposes) of policy impact evaluation are not necessarily the same and may be to:
- Purpose No. 1: Demonstrate the impact of the policy by measuring changes in short-term, intermediate and long-term outcomes.
- Purpose No. 2: Determine whether changes in outcomes can be attributed to the policy.
- Purpose No. 3: Compare relative impacts of policies with different components.
- Purpose No. 4: Identify the relative cost-benefit or cost-effectiveness of a policy.
Illustrating, in the case of the afore-mentioned cases, a policy impact evaluation might look at:
- Short-term, intermediate, and long-term outcomes and impacts (Purpose No. 1).
- Outcomes and impacts in, say, comparison communities (Purpose No. 2).
- Costs of implementing the policy (Purpose No. 3).
- Cost savings resulting from policy implementation (Purpose No. 4).
Book Independent Evaluation at the Asian Development Bank
Policy always gets evaluated in a certain timeframe by third party evaluators. Long term outcomes due to policy has to be checked at the beneficiary level and impact must be assessed by scrutinising the changes at grassroots level.
Public policy is measurable and requires holistic approach with verifiable indices or parameters. The pre-policy situation must be examined in the first instance, policy formulation process analyzed, implementation assessed, actual performance measured while the environment and regulatory or supervising agent impact considered alongside the political milieu and influence at the three stages of the policy life. These are the prominent bases for appraising public a policy.
The impact of public policy should be evaluated through the livelihood of people. The measurable indicators around the life cycle should be formulated. The indicators can be based on objectively well being and satisfaction. People should be the target group to evaluate the public policy.
You can consider the following:
1. Implementation of specific policy/component and its impact on the expected outcome over the period of time. This can help to quantify the impact for making predictions.
2. Impact of discretions available with different public authorities on enforcement efficiency. This can be done by studying variance among different sample groups.
3. Application of concepts like rents, information asymmetry etc., can give different dimensions to the study by bringing out the existence of particular practices in governance.
As a good refrencess which briefly explain policy impact evaluation you may consider following:
1_ The Magenta Book: guidance for evaluation
2- Research methods for policy evaluation
When evaluating the effect of public policy think about the direct effect (stated objective of the policy) and possible short run and long run indirect effects. Next, list down the measurable indicators (like health status/ education, etc.) that you wish to examine. Then using appropriate qualitative and quantitative approaches one can evaluate the effectiveness of the policy.
Public Policy should be viewed as an umbrella during the rain,if its unable to accommodate everyone under it,then clearly there is a need for a tent to protect everyone from rainfalls.
The impact of a successful public policy can be measured by the magnitude of addressing the policy problem and accomplishment of the policy objectives.
The impact of policy per se can measured against quantifiable result of key performance indicators which the policy seeks to address. The objection or grievance against the policy would not necessarily indicate bad policy, it can be indication of bad implementation, only as a work in progress.
It depends on the policy. Many require a multidimensional approach, including different sources of information (qualitative and quantitative), a base line, and different actors involved. In order to be evaluated, some policies can use mainly historical series of data, but others require the qualitative perspective of the people affected o benefited by a specific public intervention. Of course, there are some policies that simply cannot be evaluated in terms of impact.
hi, in echoing some of the other responses, it does of course depend on what exactly you're looking for and at. with that said, if 'policy' is to assessed or measured in terms of what changes in brings in stakeholder behaviour such that the desired outcome of 'policy' is met - whether in part or in full - and the degree to which, by working backwards, an policy outcome can be tied to a specific action, perhaps the literature on outcome harvesting and outcome mapping might be helpful.
- outcome mapping: https://www.betterevaluation.org/en/plan/approach/outcome_mapping
- outcome harvesting: https://www.betterevaluation.org/en/plan/approach/outcome_harvesting
best of luck
govin-
Through public feedback. A good government policy caters to the good of the people. Only they can vouch for the effectivity or impact of the policy. The overall result however should be taken into consideration. Does it produces good result to many?
This is a good question. I think the reasons may be the following:
Policy makers have not considered the facts of policy implementation.
The policy ignores the cultural and contextual requirements of the policy audience.
When stakeholders do not have a consensus on the policy.
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