Accountability for policy decisions: addressing gaps in theory and practice

Abstract Despite accountability’s centrality to good governance , policymakers such as senior government officials are rarely held responsible for the quality of and reasoning behind their policy choices. Conventional accountability mechanisms are mostly fixated on procedural compliance , without sufficiently attending to whether policies are well-designed , evidence-based , or achieve intended outcomes. This paper argues that “policy choice accountability”—requiring policymakers to justify decisions , demonstrate evidence use , and accept responsibility for results—represents a critical missing dimension in governance systems. Through illustrative case examples , including education transformation in Ceará , Brazil , we show how this dimension of accountability can be strengthened through our three-pillar framework. Addressing this gap is essential for confronting complex policy challenges effectively across diverse contexts. The paper contributes to accountability theory by establishing policy choice as a distinct dimension requiring specific oversight mechanisms beyond traditional administrative and political accountability. For practice , it proposes concrete threshold conditions for application that can enhance policy effectiveness and democratic governance.