When an Ambitious Program Evaluation of a Public Policy (Such

question 9

Multiple Choice

When an ambitious program evaluation of a public policy (such as welfare reform) fails to find that the new policy had a positive impact,

• A) the effort in implementing and evaluating the program was a waste of time and money.
• B) one should assume that the evaluator did a poor job.
• C) one can expect that the quality of the debate over the policy will be more enlightened.
• D) the policy will be changed within months of the evaluation report.

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Definitions:

Behavioral Economists

Scholars who examine how psychological, cognitive, emotional, cultural, and social aspects influence the economic choices made by individuals and institutions.

Preferences

The subjective tastes and desires of individuals or groups, influencing their choices among various goods, services, or outcomes.

Framing

The way information is presented to influence decision-making and judgment.

Simplifying Assumptions

Basic conditions that modelers set to make complex economic analyses more manageable and understandable.