Policy Evaluation and Analysis Flashcards
7 cards from real CEA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Policy Evaluation and Analysis flashcards as text
In policy analysis, 'satisficing' (as described by Herbert Simon) suggests that decision-makers:
Answer: Choose the first option that meets a minimum acceptability threshold
Simon's bounded rationality concept holds that decision-makers settle for a satisfactory solution rather than exhaustively searching for the optimal one.
Which evaluation criterion asks whether a policy produces its intended outputs efficiently using minimum resources?
Answer: Efficiency
Efficiency evaluates whether the policy achieved outputs at the lowest feasible input cost, distinguishing it from effectiveness (did it work) and equity (who benefited).
A 'theory of change' in program evaluation serves primarily to:
Answer: Articulate the causal logic connecting program activities to intended impacts
A theory of change maps how program inputs and activities are expected to produce outputs, outcomes, and ultimate impacts through specified causal mechanisms.
Sensitivity analysis in cost-benefit analysis is used primarily to:
Answer: Test how conclusions change when key assumptions are varied
Sensitivity analysis varies uncertain parameters (discount rates, elasticities, benefit values) to determine whether the sign or magnitude of net benefits is robust.
The 'multiplier effect' argument for public spending suggests that a $1 increase in government expenditure leads to:
Answer: A GDP increase greater than $1 due to induced private spending rounds
The Keynesian multiplier arises because initial government spending becomes income for others who re-spend a portion, amplifying the total demand effect.
Which type of policy evaluation occurs during program implementation to allow mid-course corrections?
Answer: Formative evaluation
Formative evaluation provides ongoing feedback during implementation to improve program design and delivery before final outcomes are assessed.
The 'broken windows' theory as applied to policy analysis illustrates which evaluation concept?
Answer: Threshold effects where small environmental cues trigger larger behavioral changes
The broken windows theory posits that visible signs of disorder signal permissiveness, triggering cascading behavioral responses and illustrating non-linear threshold dynamics.