ABSTRACT
Environmentalists have questioned whether the use of such economic analysis is appropriate in environmental policy decisions. This chapter builds on the previous discussions to make a case for evaluation of current environmental policies as well as assessment of the policy alternatives that are commonly suggested to complement or replace them. It aids readers in understanding the need for such evaluations; the different ways in which evaluations of environmental, energy, and natural resources policy are conducted; and the varied interpretations that policy analysts, scholars, and policymakers bring to this activity. The chapter helps readers develop a capacity to think critically and creatively about alternative policy proposals, and how to use different standards for such assessments, including effectiveness, efficiency, and fairness or equity. One of the best ways to ensure that new scientific knowledge and policy and program evaluations are brought to bear on policy choices is to design such studies into the policies themselves.
