The President of the Independent Authority for Fiscal Responsibility (AIReF), Cristina Herrero, today opened the course entitled “Public policy evaluation: evidence for decision-making” for public managers organised by ESADE in collaboration with AIReF and J-PAL. The President welcomed the fact that the training focuses on evaluation, a practice that is still not well established in Spain but is increasingly necessary to improve decision-making. She pointed out that, although AIReF has established itself as a reference body in this field, it should not be the only agent responsible for promoting this work.
During her speech, the President stressed that, in contrast to the across-the-board cuts that have traditionally been applied in times of austerity, evaluation involves the analysis of policy design, implementation and results, thereby promoting more effective decisions. In a country such as Spain, with public debt at around 100% of GDP and a commitment to reduce it in a sustained manner, this approach is essential. She also stressed that the challenges facing public finances – ageing, defence expenditure, ecological transition – require a more efficient use of resources, in line with the new European fiscal framework.
Cristina Herrero explained how AIReF has consolidated its evaluation capacity over the years, with independent and objective studies that aim to facilitate informed decision-making through their findings and proposals. She also highlighted the institution’s significant technical capacity. As a result of this work, AIReF has completed the first cycle of the Spending Review and part of the second cycle, with evaluations on financial instruments and the public-servant mutual insurance system, and has developed or is developing studies for 12 Autonomous Regions in key areas such as health, education and expenditure.
Finally, the President highlighted collaboration with the academic world and thanked the seven speakers from AIReF for their participation in the course. In her opinion, the institutionalisation of evaluation requires leadership, commitment and training, as well as cultural, technical and political change, emphasising the importance of General Government authorities developing their own evaluation capabilities. “I hope that this course will contribute to this goal”, she concluded.
