Beyond conformance: Evaluating policy side effects

Shahab, Sina ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3788-2564 2025. Beyond conformance: Evaluating policy side effects. Presented at: The 19th Annual Conference of the Association on Planning, Law, and Property Rights (PLPR), Cardiff, UK, 3-7 March 2025.

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Abstract

Policy evaluation in planning and land policy often relies on conformance-based assessments, which focus on how well the outcomes of a policy align with its original objectives. While such evaluations are important, they are insufficient on their own, as they fail to account for the unintended side effects that policies may generate. This paper argues that to provide a more comprehensive evaluation, it is crucial to move beyond mere conformance and consider the broader impacts of policies, including their effects on efficiency and equity. Policies influence not only the outcomes they intend to achieve but also generate unforeseen consequences that can affect the distribution of benefits and resources across different social groups, thus impacting equity, as well as the overall functionality of the system, affecting efficiency. This paper proposes an integrated approach to policy evaluation that incorporates both the intended outcomes and the side effects, with a particular focus on the interplay between efficiency and equity. It highlights the trade-offs that can arise between these objectives, as improvements in one may sometimes come at the expense of the other. However, certain policy interventions can mitigate or avoid these trade-offs. By adopting a holistic framework, policymakers can better understand the trade-offs and synergies between these two key purposes of policy interventions, leading to more effective and just planning and land policy decisions.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Lecture)
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Schools > Geography and Planning (GEOPL)
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	23 April 2025
Date of Acceptance:	29 October 2024
Last Modified:	17 Jun 2025 08:59
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/177862

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