Evaluation in the government marketplace

Abstract

A large government market has developed in evaluation over the past few decades. Governments let contracts to conduct evaluation studies, and these contracts shape the studies. Such contracting does not follow the idealized image of open markets. Rather, a few firms conduct most studies because of the dynamics of the contracting process. If we are to have honest, unbiased evaluations, evaluation ethics must take these market factors into consideration. The conditions under which evaluations are produced are as important as how evaluation results are used.