A key challenge to real-world policy making is determining how to match policy goals with the means available to implement them. This match is problematic for several reasons, not the least of which is the lack of  conceptual clarity surrounding how targets should be set for policy goals and how exactly policy tools should be calibrated to meet them. These subjects have been examined by a number of scholars, but  their insights have not been synthesized into a common framework, applicable in practice. This paper examines this literature and presents a framework which allows analysts and practitioners  to ensure that the designs they propose contain the necessary elements to have a significant chance of attaining policy success. The utility of the framework is illustrated through examination of two high profile recent cases of policy development: the Affordable Care Act in USA, and the regulation of car emissions in the EU.

Policy instruments have become a relevant topic in many policy fields due to their theoretical and empirical relevance (overall, policies are made and pursue their goals through policy instruments). But many fundamental issues remain unknown or under-studied with respect to the topic. The current paper examines four clusters of basic issues in the field which require further research.