value for money: program illogic
A program’s value for money should be based on whether it achieves its primary objectives. But public policy is often complex, making it difficult to measure whether those objectives are being met. When evidence of effectiveness is hard to obtain, attention can shift away from outcomes and towards other signals, such as popularity or anecdotes about secondary benefits. In this video, we explore how programs can continue to be funded even when the link between investment and intended outcomes is unclear, and how funding decisions can be better connected to intended objectives and value for money.