Evaluating Policy
It is desirable to expose students to dimensions on which to critique public policy. They could generate these themselves in a brainstorming session or the following list could be presented:
- Clarity – How clear (or fuzzy?) is the statement of policy?
- Pragmatism – How practical and workable is a policy as a solution to a problem?
- Equity – Does a policy affect different groups differently? Is it even-handed in its impact? Does it (intentionally or unintentionally) discriminate against certain groups?
- Durability – How sustainable is the policy over time? Will the policy readily become obsolete or is it likely to endure?
