Applying criteria to outcomes not alternatives

Efficiency

Equity

Economic, financial, technical, political, & administrative feasibility

Optimization & constraints

Bardach: 19 - 27

Patton & Sawicki: 186 - 226

Mintrom: 197 - 228

RES #14: Michael Kraft and Scott Furlong. 2004. Public Policy: Politics, Analysis, and Alternatives. Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly Press. pages 151 - 177.

The distributional consequences of government programs can create a wide range of "equity" problems.  This article illustrates an interesting distributional problem associated with the emphasis on "shovel ready" projects in the stimulus bill (AP - 5/09).

One problem with social security that often is not given adequate consideration are the big intergenerational equity problems associated with the program.  See this interesting analysis by the Urban Institute looking at how different generations benefit from social security and medicare benefits over their lifetime (1/11). 

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Figures - Evaluative criteria

 See these local benchmarking reports that have have examples of performance measures for a Fire Services, Police Services, Residential Refuse, Fleet Maintenance, Central Human Resources, and Asphalt Maintenance for FY '10