Public Policy Evaluation Through Modeling

Public policy evaluation is largely based on a scientific approach aimed at increasing our knowledge of the impact of a wide range of public policy options. The starting point of this approach is the degree of our ignorance in the relevant field - something that is not always easy to admit - and, thus, by conducting an evaluation, our knowledge of the paths to the goals that will be raised and set as a result of public deliberation is deepened. The objectives, technical and institutional problems of public policy evaluation are presented here. The tasks of evaluation are to expand scientific knowledge, to assist in policy decision-making, and to contribute to democratic public deliberation. Evaluation does not limit policy decision-making to a small group of experts and, on the contrary, is a necessary condition for the acceptance by all citizens of the rational opinion expressed in public debates. The expertise should also consider the choice of evaluation methods that depend on the available data and the policy to be evaluated. At the same time, a non-technical overview of currently available methods is presented, comparing the advantages and limitations of these methods. After focusing on the institutions involved in social policy evaluation, the key to institutional success of evaluations is discussed.