The significance of assumptions in policy preferences

This study illustrates the extent to which assumptions can influence policy preferences. Two respondent groups provided a relative ranking of ten socio-economic goals and estimated the impact of various policy dimensions on each goal. The groups display different values orientations and strongly disagree on the consequences of four policy dimensions. Conflicting assumptions are a major cause of the divergent policy preferences. Conflicts in assumptions, in turn, are due to differences in values and perspectives. The results underline the importance of a broad perspective and an awareness of values in policy formulation.