Navigating the challenges of policy evaluation

Abstract

Policy evaluation is a well‐established management practice in many countries worldwide. Evaluation as we know it dates back to the 1970s. Throughout its rich history, evaluation has fulfilled a growing number of purposes with a focus on rationality and accountability. This article describes the major challenges facing evaluators and public administration researchers interested in the practice. We then formulate a research agenda, based on interdisciplinary research, to inform future work and guide the future of evaluation.