Metachoice in policy analysis

Abstract

Many national governments now mandate some form of ex ante evaluation of policy alternatives. But, evidence suggests that both policy analysts and their political and bureaucratic clients have difficulty doing this form of policy analysis evaluation. To conduct effective ex ante evaluation of alternatives, analysts and decision-makers must first choose the choice method class – metachoice. This paper presents an explicitly normative metachoice framework to assist them decide on a policy choice method. We propose that the metachoice decision depends on two factors: (1) goal orientation and breadth, and (2) willingness to monetize efficiency impacts. This results in four choice method classes: (comprehensive) Cost–Benefit Analysis, Efficiency Analysis, Embedded Cost–Benefit Analysis and Multi-Goal Analysis. These four method classes embrace a more extensive set of specific methods. Efficiency Analysis, which is the least well understood method class, is described in detail.

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