Putting measures of individual well-being to use for ex-ante policy evaluation

Abstract

Most studies using microsimulation techniques have considered the effect of potential reforms on the income distribution. However, it has become increasingly recognized, both at the academic and political level, that focusing purely on income provides a limited picture of social progress. We illustrate how ex-ante policy evaluation can be performed in terms of richer concepts of individual well-being, such as subjective life satisfaction and equivalent incomes. Our analysis makes use of EUROMOD, the EU-wide tax-benefit microsimulation model, along with 2013 EU-SILC data for Sweden, which for the first time provides information on life satisfaction. Our results show that the effect of potential reforms varies widely depending on the well-being concept used in the evaluation. We discuss the normative questions that are raised by this finding.

Innovation for Sustainable Productivity in Agricultural Land Conversion

“…Innovation studies shed light on the complexities of innovation adoption at the individual level providing rich insight into the key drivers, barriers, and elements for innovation in rural communities that serve as the basis for developing policies to support sustainable innovation adoption. Jara and Schokkaert (13) suggest that evaluation of ex-ante policies at the individual level is still rarely carried out. Švarc et al, (14) argue about the role of public science and research-based innovation that is increasingly needed.…”