Evaluation and accountability in spatial economic policy: A review of alternative approaches

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Abstract
In recent years evaluation has become a more prominent issue in policy research and practice. This is partly a consequence of government attempts to introduce new ways of monitoring and controlling the activities of the public sector. This paper explores the implications of different approaches to the evaluation of spatial economic policies. The issue is timely, given the major reforms that have been taking place, often with limited analysis of effectiveness of past programmes. Different types of evaluation reflect different values, assumptions and purposes. Those based on physical output measures have been important historically, but are not very revealing, particularly in economic development. Financial measures are increasingly important, but are narrow and restrictive. The wide remit and responsibilities of the public sector suggest that a broader approach should be adopted. Social accounting offers the potential to examine issues of quality, distribution, and the overall economic and social outcomes of policies. Evaluative studies are also likely to be more reliable and useful for policy purposes if they seek to understand the forces and mechanisms of change at work.

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