Social Policies I: A Conceptual Framework for the Analysis

Abstract

This article presents an analytical review of the main aspects that need to be considered in the design and evaluation of social programs. Seven topics are presented and discussed: funding of the Social Policy; costs and benefits of a decentralization process and its impact on the effectiveness of social programs; efficiency in public spending; the targeting of the Social Policy; public provision of public services; cost recovery in social programs; and finally, an analysis of the complementarities among different social programs.