Identifying Key Criteria for Evaluating Air Pollution Policies in Iran

Policy evaluation, as a key pillar of the policymaking process, seeks the continuous reform and improvement of policy implementation. In the realm of environmental issues, one of the major problems facing Iranian metropolises in recent years has been air pollution, for which multiple policies have been formulated and executed over time. Yet according to official indices, the air pollution situation has not only failed to improve, but it has also deteriorated. Among the prerequisites for addressing this is the existence of criteria for evaluating policies. Through a qualitative approach and a case study strategy comprised of policy document analysis alongside semi-structured interviews with 16 expert participants, this research has sought to identify evaluative criteria. Ultimately, the findings put forward 41 distinct benchmarks across three levels of policy outputs, outcomes, and impacts for assessing air pollution policies.