Policy Brief Outline
ECON 360
Professor Hymel
1) Introduction
a) Statement of the problem. Begin by describing the environmental issue at hand in general terms without going into too much detail. Also be sure to introduce the solution you are offering to the policy maker and its consequences.
b) Overview of the paper. This should spell out a road map for how the policy brief is organized.
2) Description of the environmental issue
a) Detailed discussion of your paper topic. This section should include a description of the issue and any salient facts. You will want to know as much about the issue as possible. You will find information in newspaper articles, academic journals, and government reports. Be sure to cite any sources. This section will describe the current state of affairs and introduce the reader to any important scientific knowledge.
3) Economic Analysis
a) This section focuses on the economic dimension of the issue question and establishes the economic rationale for the recommendations presented.
b) Summary of available options. What are the options for addressing the issue? For example, the options may include command and control regulation, taxes, subsidies, market based mechanisms, or doing nothing.
c) Assessment of options. From a theoretical standpoint, use what we have learned in the class to assess the likely outcomes of each option. What might the costs and benefits include? What are the uncertainties involved in the analysis?
d) Suggested data sources necessary to conduct benefit-cost analysis. How do you monetize the benefits and costs of your options? How would you conduct a contingent valuation survey if you think that is the best option? I am not asking you to actually conduct a statistical analysis, but I want you to think about what you would need to know in order to do so.
4) Recommendation
a) In this section you recommend, based on your analysis, how the environmental issue should be resolved assuming that economic efficiency is the primary objective.
