The economic analysis of social policy evaluation

inclu des f i r s t an a n alysis o f the process o f in d iv id u a l evaluation o f a p o lic y by persons a ffe c te d by i t .How do in d iv id u a ls judge p o lic ie s ?Second, the scope includes an an alysis o f how a diverse population made up o f a l l persons a ffe c te d by a p o lic y , o ften in opp osite ways, might act on the p o lic y .How can the p o licy be put in to e f f e c t , m odified, or r ejected in response to the various and often c o n flic tin g evaluations o f a l l o f the in d iv id u a ls involved?Third, the scope includes th e relevant fu nctions of and im p lications for economics.There w i l l be no analyses o f p a rticu la r s o c ia l p o li c ie s .Any p o licy an alysis given w i l l be il l u s t r a t i v e .No attempt w i l l be made to ca ta lo g , d escrib e, analyze, or g iv e the h is to r y o f p articu lar s o c ia l p o lic ie s .Scant a tte n tio n w i l l be paid to the sources or processes o f development o f proposals fo r s o c ia l p o lic ie s .Philosophy, s o c ia l psychology, economics, and government w i l l be drawn on only in those ways and to the exten t necessary fo r the a n a ly s is .The method o f th is study is th e o r e tic a l.The premises o f the various points o f theory are based upon the follow in g sources of knowledge, and the th e o r e tic a l conclusions o f the study are checked again st them.One i s economic theory and certain aspects o f the r e la te d f ie ld s o f philosophy, s o c ia l psychology, and other s o c ia l s c ie n c e s .Another i s popular and sch o la rly analyses of public p o lic y is s u e s in the United S ta te s .S t i l l another i s the \irriter's system atic experim entation in p rocesses o f evaluation with in d iv id u a ls or groups o f c o lle g e students or a d u lts.