چكيده لاتين
Abstract
This study conducts a comparative analysis of policy evaluation processes in Iran and Norway. The primary objective is to examine the impact of policy evaluation on the indicators of good governance and the overall quality of policymaking in these two countries. Policy evaluation is recognized as a key instrument for enhancing transparency, accountability, and governmental effectiveness. Accordingly, this research investigates how evaluation processes can contribute to improving governance and the efficiency of public policies in political and institutional contexts that differ significantly. A mixed-methods approach was employed. In the qualitative component, content analysis and thematic coding were conducted on official documents, reports, and academic studies related to policy evaluation in Iran and Norway. In the quantitative component, governance indicators such as the Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) and the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) were used to compare and analyze the effects of evaluation practices in both countries. The empirical basis of this study consists of secondary data drawn from governmental reports, peer-reviewed articles, and international databases. The findings demonstrate that in Norway, policy evaluation processes are conducted regularly and transparently through independent oversight institutions, the parliament, and civil society. These mechanisms have strengthened accountability, transparency, and the effectiveness of policies. By contrast, in Iran, policy evaluations are often subject to political interference and lack transparency, which has reduced their efficiency and undermined effective responsiveness to public needs. This weakness is particularly evident in areas such as subsidy policies, environmental regulation, and social programs. The comparative analysis further shows that in Norway, independent oversight bodies such as the Office of the Auditor General and parliamentary committees play a critical role in improving evaluation processes and increasing policy effectiveness. In Iran, however, the absence of independent institutions, coupled with limited transparency and restricted access to information, has prevented evaluations from meaningfully contributing to policy improvement. Based on these findings, the study proposes several recommendations for enhancing policy evaluation in Iran, including the establishment of an independent evaluation authority, strengthening transparency and access to information, and adopting modern technologies for data collection and analysis. These measures could help improve governance, enhance policy effectiveness, and increase governmental accountability in Iran.
Keywords: Comparative study, Good governance, Independent evaluation body, Iran, Norway, Policy evaluation.
