The Growing Role of Evaluation in Parliaments: Holding Governments Accountable (original) (raw)
Abstract To date, the role of evaluation in parliaments has merely been analyzed. This surprises as members of parliament are stakeholders ‘par excellence’, who could have an interest in evaluation. But do they? Via a systematic analysis of written questions and interpellations in Germany and Flanders we investigate MPs attention for evaluations. The following aspects are analyzed, from a comparative perspective: the content of questions on evaluation, the political profile of the MPs posing the questions, the share of questions on evaluation, and the distribution of questions over political parties, policy areas and over time. Points for Practitioners The role and use of evaluation in the democratic process might be enhanced. On the one side Members of Parliament might wish to be better informed on evaluation methods as well as on possibilities for using evaluation results for accountability and learning purposes. On the other side evaluators might strive for strengthening the demand for evaluation in the policy making process and not only public administration.