ECONOMICS FOR POLICY ANALYSIS
MAJOR ASSIGNMENT: A POLICY ANALYSIS PAPER
The policy analysis paper should be approximately 5000–6000 words in length. The due date will be November 13 th by the start of class. Both a hardcopy and an electronic copy
(Word document) are required.
A SAMPLE OUTLINE
1.
Title: name of paper, prepared by… and for …, date - at top of first page, title and date repeated in header subsequent pages
2.
Executive Summary - one page
3.
Introduction – one paragraph summarizing the importance or currency of the issue being analyzed and the major question(s) to be addressed in the analysis
4.
Context - a short ( one paragraph ) description of the situation, with quantitative information if available.
5.
Relevant Economic Theory – one page analysis of applicable theory
6.
History – a summary of past policy initiatives in the jurisdiction of concern (or others) and their outcomes
– perhaps two pages
7.
Policy Goals – will likely include economic efficiency , equity, ease of enforcement or application of policy, political feasibility , and perhaps others.
One page
8.
Alternatives: description of several policy alternatives – one paragraph each
9.
Comparison of the Alternatives: in terms of the policy goals selected in 7 above.
May require several pages
10.
Evaluation and Recommendation: a summary of the comparison in 9 above and recommendation with short explanation and advice on implementation. Two or three paragraphs
For an example, see: Weimer, David L. and Aidan R. Vining , Policy Analysis: Concepts and Practice , 4 th edition, Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005, chapter 1 or chapter 9, pp 193-204
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

Brevity is a virtue.

Use footnotes rather than bibliography at end.

A table summarizing the evaluation findings can be useful in section 9.

This is not an essay nor a decision item.