Policy Assessment

Analyze potential or realized impacts to inform policy development and design.

What this looks like in practice

  • Predictive policy analysis

    Forecasting the likely effects of a proposed regulation, incentive, or program before adoption.

  • Program and policy evaluation

    Measuring what impacts implemented policies have achieved and how they could be improved.

  • Comparative jurisdictional analysis

    Examining how peer cities, states, or systems have addressed a problem to inform translatable solutions.

Our clients are

  • Evaluating the potential effects of a new program or policy change on public-facing outcomes
  • Seeking a clear assessment of whether and how a program is working and how it could be improved
  • Looking for actionable information on how comparable jurisdictions have addressed a problem
  • Raising awareness around a policy issue that needs better quantification

Featured projects

Recent engagements where the analysis shaped a transaction, program, or policy decision. View all case studies

Public Policy and Fiscal Analysis · 2025

Who Lacks Access and the Potential Benefits of State-Facilitated Retirement Saving Programs

ESI worked with the Center for Retirement Initiatives (CRI) at Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy to update analysis of workers’ access to retirement savings…

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Public Policy and Fiscal Analysis · 2024

New Hampshire Benefits Cliff Graduated Assistance Programs Analysis

ESI was commissioned by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services to study the potential for graduated assistance programs to help mitigate benefit cliffs.…

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Public Policy and Fiscal Analysis · 2025

The Economic and Fiscal Impact of the Cook County Promise Guaranteed Income Pilot

Cook County, Illinois used funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to implement the Cook County Promise Guaranteed Income Pilot, which provided $500 monthly payments…

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Related practice areas

Core services represent ESI's key analytical frameworks. See our practice areas for how our analysis relates to our areas of expertise.

Public Policy and Fiscal Analysis Policy assessment is the core method behind our public policy practice. Explore Real Estate and Land Use Planning We assess housing, zoning, and land use policies and their market effects. Explore Infrastructure Economics Transportation and infrastructure programs are a frequent subject of our evaluations. Explore

Economic analysis for decisions that matter

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