How to make good policies? : 10 principles
1. A sound policy has government do only what individuals and associations cannot do for themselves.
2. A sound policy considers long-term consequences over all groups of people not just the short terms effects on one group.
3. A sound policy will enhance: choice, competition and freedom.
4. A sound policy focuses on measurable outcomes, not just inputs and good intentions.
5. A sound policy aligns incentives by moving up the hierarchy of Friedman's Law of Spending.
6. A sound policy would enable governance (like decisions about taxes and expenditures) closest to the people.
7. A sound policy would impose the same standards, norms and punishments for non-performance on governments as are imposed on non-state providers.
8. A sound policy will not sacrifice the rights of an individual for the interest of many.
9. A sound policy is based on the premise that people are responsible, resilient, and self-governing given the right set of incentives and framework of law.
10. A sound policy should often have an expiry date (sunset clause).
(Source: Social Change & Public Policy by Parth J. Shah)
