Policy analysis questions.

75 policy analysis questions from the bank, ready to practice out loud.

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Stakeholder mapping: who's affected, who decides, who fights STAR and CARL: structuring your story Comparing policy options with a criteria matrix Implementation feasibility: capacity, cost, and rollout Unintended consequences: modeling behavioral responses Weighing policy evidence: validity and transferability

All 75 questions

Rideshare peak-hour capacity cappingA city council proposes capping rideshare rides at peak hours to reduce congestion. Walk me through your analysis.Identifying affected stakeholdersMid–senior

Property vacancy tax effectsA state proposes a vacancy tax on properties unoccupied for six months. Walk me through what's likely to happen.Intended vs unintended effectsMid–senior

Paid family leave policy feasibilityWalk me through how you'd assess whether a proposed paid family leave policy is feasible to implement.Implementation feasibilitySenior–leadership

School mental-health program evidenceWalk me through how you'd evaluate the evidence base for a proposed mental-health support program in schools.Evidence baseSenior–leadership

Alternative formulations of sugar taxWalk me through alternative formulations to a proposed sugar tax aimed at reducing obesity.Alternative formulationsSenior–leadership

High-school start time delay analysisA school district proposes pushing back high-school start times by 90 minutes. Walk me through your analysis.Identifying affected stakeholdersMid–senior

Nursing home minimum-staffing ratiosWalk me through what you'd analyze before a state implemented a minimum-staffing ratio in nursing homes.Intended vs unintended effectsSenior–leadership

Electric bus fleet transition feasibilityWalk me through how you'd evaluate the feasibility of switching a city's bus fleet to electric in 5 years.Implementation feasibilitySenior–leadership

Universal basic income pilot outcomesWalk me through how you'd weigh the evidence for a universal-basic-income pilot's outcomes.Evidence baseSenior–leadership

Permits versus pricing for emissionsWalk me through how you'd compare a permit-based versus a price-based approach to reducing emissions.Alternative formulationsSenior–leadership

Stakeholders for plastic bag banWalk me through who you'd consult before proposing a citywide ban on plastic bags.Identifying affected stakeholdersMid–senior

Local minimum wage increase analysisWalk me through what you'd assess about a proposal to raise the local minimum wage to $20.Intended vs unintended effectsSenior–leadership

New agency program proposalWalk me through how you'd analyze a proposed government program that would require a new agency.Implementation feasibilitySenior–leadership

Responding when policy contradicts researchWalk me through how you'd respond when proposed policy directly contradicts a peer-reviewed analysis you trust.Evidence baseSenior–leadership

Legislative versions for reception testingWalk me through how you'd structure alternative versions of a single piece of legislation to test reception.Alternative formulationsSenior–leadership

Highway to transit funding stakeholdersWalk me through your stakeholder map for a proposal to redirect highway funds to public transit.Identifying affected stakeholdersSenior–leadership

Potential problems with non-compete limitsWalk me through what could go wrong with a proposed rule limiting non-compete agreements.Intended vs unintended effectsSenior–leadership

Evaluating interagency data sharing proposalWalk me through how you'd evaluate a proposal that requires extensive interagency data sharing.Implementation feasibilitySenior–leadership

Communicating policy analysis uncertaintyWalk me through how you'd communicate uncertainty in a policy analysis to a non-technical audience.Evidence baseSenior–leadership

Structuring a controversial policy rolloutWalk me through how you'd structure a phased rollout of a controversial new policy.Alternative formulationsSenior–leadership

Rent stabilization winners and losersWalk me through your analysis of who gains and who loses from a proposed rent-stabilization ordinance.Identifying affected stakeholdersSenior–leadership

Concerns about banning TikTok-style appsWalk me through what you'd warn about regarding a proposed ban on TikTok-style apps.Intended vs unintended effectsSenior–leadership

Evaluating privacy law implementation costsWalk me through how you'd evaluate the implementation cost of an expansive new privacy law.Implementation feasibilitySenior–leadership

Using data from different countriesWalk me through how you'd handle an analysis where the available data is from countries quite different from ours.Evidence baseSenior–leadership

Narrowing popular but broad proposalsWalk me through how you'd suggest narrowing a proposal that's politically popular but too broad to be effective.Alternative formulationsSenior–leadership

Interviewing for sentencing reform analysisWalk me through who you'd want to interview before recommending a sentencing-reform proposal.Identifying affected stakeholdersSenior–leadership

First-time homebuyer subsidy risksWalk me through what you'd warn about in a proposal to subsidize first-time homebuyers.Intended vs unintended effectsSenior–leadership

Sunset clause necessity for regulationsWalk me through how you'd determine whether a proposed regulation needs a sunset clause.Implementation feasibilitySenior–leadership

Policy proposals with qualitative evidenceWalk me through how you'd handle a policy proposal where the strongest evidence is qualitative.Evidence baseSenior–leadership

Policy failure across similar citiesWalk me through how you'd reformulate a policy that worked in one city but failed in another similar one.Alternative formulationsSenior–leadership

Restaurant calorie count policy effectsA county proposes requiring all restaurants to post calorie counts on menus. Walk me through who would be affected by this policy.Identifying affected stakeholdersEntry–mid

Free EV parking unintended consequencesWalk me through what unintended consequences might arise from a proposal to offer free public parking to electric vehicles.Intended vs unintended effectsEntry–mid

Housing voucher acceptance requirementsA city wants to require landlords to accept housing vouchers. Walk me through what you'd need to assess about implementation.Implementation feasibilityEntry–mid

Assessing evidence for tutoring programsWalk me through how you'd assess the evidence for a proposed after-school tutoring program targeting low-income students.Evidence baseEntry–mid

Single-use straw ban alternativesA state proposes banning single-use plastic straws. Walk me through alternative approaches to achieve the same environmental goal.Alternative formulationsEntry–mid

Parking minimum elimination stakeholdersWalk me through who you'd identify as stakeholders for a proposal to eliminate parking minimums in new residential developments.Identifying affected stakeholdersEntry–mid

Effects of gender-neutral public restroomsA city proposes making all public restrooms gender-neutral. Walk me through what intended and unintended effects you'd analyze.Intended vs unintended effectsEntry–mid

Government forms language implementationWalk me through what implementation challenges you'd flag for a proposal requiring all government forms to be available in the top 10 languages spoken locally.Implementation feasibilityEntry–mid

Evaluating vaccination incentive researchWalk me through how you'd evaluate the research supporting a proposal to offer cash incentives for childhood vaccination.Evidence baseEntry–mid

Alternatives to speed camerasA town wants to reduce speeding in residential areas. Walk me through alternative policy approaches beyond installing speed cameras.Alternative formulationsEntry–mid

Library late fee elimination impactWalk me through which groups would be most affected by a proposal to eliminate late fees at the public library.Identifying affected stakeholdersEntry–mid

Solar panel tax break risksA county proposes offering property-tax breaks to homeowners who install solar panels. Walk me through what could go wrong.Intended vs unintended effectsEntry–mid

Commercial childcare facility mandateA major city proposes requiring all new commercial buildings over 50,000 square feet to include on-site childcare facilities. Walk me through your analysis.Identifying affected stakeholdersMid–senior

Non-compete ban for lower earnersWalk me through how you'd evaluate a proposal to ban non-compete agreements for workers earning under $100,000 annually.Intended vs unintended effectsMid–senior

Landfill gas energy conversion feasibilityA county proposes converting its landfill gas into energy to power 5,000 homes. Walk me through what you'd assess about implementation feasibility.Implementation feasibilityMid–staff+

Guaranteed income for foster youthWalk me through how you'd assess the evidence base for a guaranteed income program targeted at young adults aging out of foster care.Evidence baseMid

Alternatives to fare-free transit fundingA transit agency proposes eliminating fares entirely and funding operations through property taxes. Walk me through alternative formulations.Alternative formulationsMid–senior

Stakeholders for hospital price transparencyWalk me through who you'd consult before implementing a statewide requirement for hospitals to publish negotiated prices with insurers.Identifying affected stakeholdersMid–staff+

Effects of pass/fail introductory coursesA university proposes making all introductory courses pass/fail to reduce student stress. Walk me through the likely intended and unintended effects.Intended vs unintended effectsEntry–mid

Analysis before mandatory solar panelsWalk me through what you'd analyze before a state implemented mandatory solar panels on all new residential construction.Implementation feasibilityMid–senior

Algorithmic hiring tool ban impactA city proposes banning algorithmic hiring tools that use AI to screen job applicants. Walk me through your analysis of who would be affected.Identifying affected stakeholdersSenior–leadership

Evidence for four-day workweek mandateWalk me through how you'd evaluate the evidence supporting a four-day workweek mandate for companies with over 100 employees.Evidence baseMid–staff+

Pharmaceutical price increase regulationA state proposes requiring pharmaceutical companies to justify price increases above inflation. Walk me through alternative policy designs.Alternative formulationsSenior–leadership

Effects of banning drive-throughsWalk me through what might happen if a city banned drive-throughs for new restaurant construction to reduce emissions and encourage walkability.Intended vs unintended effectsEntry–mid

Mandatory coding class implementationA school district proposes mandatory coding classes starting in third grade. Walk me through the implementation challenges you'd assess.Implementation feasibilityEntry–mid

Stakeholders for right-to-repair electronicsWalk me through who you'd need to consult before a state implemented a right-to-repair law for consumer electronics.Identifying affected stakeholdersMid–senior

Affordable housing developer incentivesA county proposes offering cash incentives to developers who build affordable housing units. Walk me through alternative approaches to achieve the same goal.Alternative formulationsMid–staff+

Single-use plastic ban effectivenessWalk me through how you'd assess whether a proposed ban on single-use plastics in food service is likely to achieve its environmental goals.Evidence baseEntry–mid

Effects of consolidating school districtsA region proposes consolidating 15 small school districts into three larger ones to cut administrative costs. Walk me through what's likely to happen.Intended vs unintended effectsMid–senior

Rent control feasibility assessmentWalk me through what you'd assess about feasibility before a city implemented rent control limiting annual increases to 3%.Implementation feasibilityMid–senior

Mandatory mental health days impactA state proposes mandatory mental health days for all employees, separate from sick leave. Walk me through who would be most affected.Identifying affected stakeholdersMid

Carbon tax design for equityWalk me through alternative ways to structure a carbon tax that aims to reduce emissions while protecting low-income households.Alternative formulationsSenior–leadership

Dedicated bus lanes tradeoff analysisA transit authority proposes dedicated bus lanes on a major corridor, removing one car lane in each direction. Walk me through your analysis.Intended vs unintended effectsMid–senior

Universal pre-K outcome evaluationWalk me through how you'd evaluate the evidence for a proposed universal pre-K program's impact on long-term educational outcomes.Evidence baseMid–staff+

EV charging station feasibilityA city proposes requiring all parking lots with over 50 spaces to install EV charging stations. Walk me through the feasibility considerations.Implementation feasibilityMid–senior

Vacant storefront tax stakeholdersWalk me through who you'd consult before implementing a tax on vacant storefronts in commercial districts to encourage occupancy.Identifying affected stakeholdersMid–senior

Cash bail elimination alternativesA state proposes eliminating cash bail for all non-violent offenses. Walk me through alternative policy designs that address the same objectives.Alternative formulationsSenior–leadership

Publishing salary ranges effectsYour company is about to publish salary ranges on every job posting. Walk me through your analysis of what happens next — internally and in the market.Intended vs unintended effectsMid–senior

Unlimited PTO design tradeoffsLeadership wants to replace accrued vacation with unlimited PTO. Walk me through the tradeoffs and the alternative designs you'd put on the table.Alternative formulationsSenior–leadership

Remote-first pay location analysisYour company is going remote-first and must decide whether pay follows the employee's location. Walk me through your analysis of who's affected and how.Identifying affected stakeholdersSenior–leadership

Internal job application without noticeA proposed policy would let employees apply to internal roles without notifying their current manager. Walk me through your analysis of whether it can work and what it would take.Implementation feasibilityMid–senior

Wildfire policy renewal effectsYour carrier proposes to stop writing new homeowners policies in wildfire-prone ZIP codes while continuing to renew existing customers. Walk me through the likely effects, intended and otherwise.Intended vs unintended effectsSenior–leadership

Credit score insurance ban stakeholdersA state legislature proposes banning the use of credit-based insurance scores in personal auto rating. Walk me through your stakeholder analysis.Identifying affected stakeholdersMid–senior

Automated claims processing assessmentYour claims organization proposes fully automated straight-through processing for auto physical-damage claims under a set threshold — no human touch from filing to payment. Assess whether it should happen.Implementation feasibilitySenior–leadership

Rate increase alternatives for retentionYour homeowners book needs significant rate, but leadership worries a large across-the-board increase will spike shopping and retention loss. What alternative formulations get you to adequacy?Alternative formulationsSenior–leadership