By Li Yaokun, Xiong Hongru & Zhang Liang, Research Team on “Australia’s Government Policy Evaluation and the Role of Think Tanks”, Institute of Public Administration and Human Resources, DRC

Research Report, No.176, 2017 (Total 5251) 2017-12-13

Abstract: The delegation sent by DRC made a study tour in Australia in 2017 on “government policy evaluation work and the role of think tanks”. During its stay in Australia, members of the delegation studied the performance of government policy evaluation mechanism as well as the basic approaches for think tanks to participate in policy evaluation projects. Australia launched government policy evaluation work in the 1990s and has so far constructed a relatively complete mechanism for government policy evaluation through setting up the structural framework of policy evaluation, formulating the standard policy evaluation procedures and evaluation index system, and cultivating professional personnel for policy evaluation work. Meanwhile, Australia has further enriched the approaches to government policy evaluation by creating a highly market-based environment for the participation of think tanks in government policy evaluation work and taking policy inquiry as an important pillar to support government policy evaluation. China could draw on Australian experience to build a long-term mechanism for think-tanks’ participation in government policy evaluation work, establish an organization and coordination system, formulate legislative and institutional–based guarantee regulations, promote the team building of high-caliber professionals, and improve the policy-making consultancy system, all aiming at pressing ahead with China’s government policy evaluation work.

Key words: government policy evaluation, experience and implications, Australia