Efficiency criteria
As a first step in planning a policy evaluation, a common set of policy assessment
criteria is needed. The WPSMEE has identified a seven-point criteria under which policies
can be assessed (OECD, 2000, 2004):
● Rationale: The justification for the policy (for example, does it address a market or
government failure?).
● Additionality: The net added value of the programme (that is, would an improvement in
net economic and social benefit have occurred anyway in the absence of the project or
programme).
● Appropriateness: The extent to which the programme addresses a clearly identified
market or government failure.
● Superiority: Whether the programme is more effective than other possible programmes
addressing the same goals.
● Systemic Efficiency: The extent to which the programme interacts positively and
negatively with other government actions.
● Own Efficiency: Whether the programme is cost effective in achieving its objectives.
● Adaptive Efficiency: The extent to which evaluations lead to the implementation of
programme change.
In practice, governments rarely apply all of these efficiency criteria. They represent an
ideal of what governments should be aiming for in evaluation rather than a reflection of
current practices.
For more information on the efficiency criteria, please refer to: OECD (2004) and OECD (2007).