PLCY 71

Steps in Performing a Policy Analysis

To conduct an effective and useful policy analysis, you will need to do each of the following tasks. Note that the process of policy analysis is iterative: after each step you may need to come back and revise one or more earlier steps.

1. Define and frame the policy problem

- Take a 1^st cut at defining the problem

- Why is public policy needed?

- What are the goals/objectives for the policy

2. Identify the key stakeholders (individuals and groups) for an issue,

- Who are the target beneficiaries of the policy?

- Whose behavior will be changed?

- Who will implement the policy?

- Who else can directly influence the decision?

3. Identify the relevant criteria needed to choose the “best” policy

4. Identify or create alternative solutions

- What different policy instruments might achieve the objectives?

- Usually should include “do nothing” or status quo

5. Assess the outcome of each alternative in terms of each criterion

- Sometimes obvious or straightforward

- Often requires detailed analysis, calculations, even computer simulations

- Sometimes the analyst must rely simply on their judgment

6. Assess the tradeoffs between alternatives

- The best alternative depends on the relative importance of the criteria

- Are some alternatives always worse no matter what the priorities?

- What relative weight on the criteria causes an alternative to be preferred

7. Identify barriers to implementation

- Who has to do something to make the policy happen?

- Is this consistent with what they already do?

8. Recommend the best alternative

- Recommendation not always possible or allowed, but think hard about it

9. Communicate your recommendation and the reasoning behind it to a client/decision-maker

- Make clear the tradeoffs between the top choices

- Make sure that best possible options are “on the table” and eliminate worst

- Although the analysis may be technical, communication must be clear, simple, and understandable.