Public Problems and Policy Alternatives 146

Problem Analysis 149

The Nature of the Problem 150

Thinking about Causes and Solutions 157

How to Find Information 161

Constructing Alternatives 163

What Governments Can Do 164

Policy Typologies as Analytic Tools 166

Thinking Creatively about Policy Action 169

Conclusions 172

Discussion Questions 173

Keywords 173

Suggested Readings 173

Suggested Websites 174

Notes 174

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6 Assessing Policy Alternatives 178

Evaluative Criteria for Judging Policy Proposals 181

Effectiveness 184

Efficiency 186

Equity 188

Ethics and Political Values 191

Using the Methods of Policy Analysis 192

Economic Approaches 193

Cost-Benefit Analysis 193

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis 199

Risk Assessment 200

Decision Making and Impacts 204

Forecasting 204

Impact Assessment 206

Political and Institutional Approaches 207

Political Feasibility Analysis 208

Implementation Analysis and Program Evaluation 209

Ethical Analysis 211

Conclusions 214

Discussion Questions 215

Keywords 215

Suggested Readings 215

Suggested Websites 216

Notes 216