Empirical validity of the evaluation of public policies: models of evaluation and quality of evidence

Marielle Berriet-Solliec, Pierre Labarthe, Catherine Laurent and Jacques Baudry

No 2011/4, INRA UMR CESAER Working Papers from INRA UMR CESAER, Centre d'’Economie et Sociologie appliquées à l'’Agriculture et aux Espaces Ruraux

Abstract: There is a wide range of evaluation methods. On the basis of which criteria should one method be chosen? On what scientific foundations are the results of numerous evaluations based? How can reliability and empirical validity be tested? The relevance of such questions is heightened in new fields of action such as agri-environmental policy. This paper aims to demonstrate that theoretical advances on level and types of evidence (existence, causality, effectiveness) can help resolve these issues. The main evaluation methods are classified into three main categories, according to their main goal (to learn, measure, understand) and linked to the debate on types of evidence. The analysis is illustrated by comparing evaluation methods in the field of agroenvironmental policies and farm advisory services. Attention is drawn to the shortcomings of each method with respect to corroborating facts as well as existing complementarities and trade-offs between methods in terms of empirical validity.

Keywords: Evaluation; Evidence; Agricultural extension; Agri-environnement (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: B49 H83 Q18 Q58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 16
Date: 2011-04-13
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr
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Working Paper: Empirical validity of the evaluation of public policies: models of evaluation and quality of evidence (2011)
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