Policyfråga

Policyfråga, which is Swedish for policy question, is a question that defines a public policy problem and frames how analysts and decision-makers should examine and respond to it. In public administration, political science and policy analysis, a policyfråga directs inquiry toward the aims, instruments and trade-offs of policy choices.

A well-formed policyfråga is bounded, clear, and action-oriented. It specifies the policy domain, the intended objectives, the scope and time horizon, and it notes constraints such as budget, legal rules, and political feasibility. It typically implies viable alternatives that can be assessed.

Formulating a policyfråga supports the policy process by guiding problem framing, option development, and impact assessment. It helps translate a broad concern—such as inefficiency or inequity—into concrete interventions and evaluative criteria.

Practitioners advise defining the problem, setting measurable objectives, identifying stakeholders, outlining instrument options, and specifying indicators for success. It is useful to consider data availability, ethical implications, and political viability when refining the question.

Examples include: "How should housing policy be redesigned to reduce waiting times for affordable housing within the current budget?" and "Which transportation subsidies maximize accessibility while reducing emissions over the next decade?"

Related concepts include public policy, policy analysis, problem framing, and policy evaluation.