DIFFERENTIAL PROGRAM IMPACT AS A FUNCTION OF TARGET NEED: OR WHY SOME GOOD POLICIES OFTEN SEEM TO FAIL

Richard I. Hofferbert

Review of Policy Research, 1982, vol. 2, issue 2, 279-292

Abstract: A growing body of evaluation research has been reporting negative or lack of positive effects from a wide range of social policies and programs. Yet within the data presented one can frequently detect that relative ineffectiveness is far from uniform across time periods and/or population groups. Evidence may be gleaned from existing research to suggest that some policies have differential effectiveness, being most effective where and when the need is greatest, with “need” measured as the change in conditions reasonably assumed to be the policy goal. The essay cautions policy analysts against over‐aggregation of data on policy impact. It also argues that a substantial amount of money and public effort could be saved, without sacrificing net positive effect, by fitting policy efforts to demonstrable need/effectiveness curves.

Date: 1982
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