Public Policy Analysis involves systematically studying the nature, causes, and effects of alternative public policies, with particular emphasis on determining the policies that will achieve given goals.

It is frequently deployed in the public sector but is equally applicable to other kinds of organizations. Policy study experts mostly graduate from public policy schools with public policy degrees. They may have diverse backgrounds such as policy studies itself, public policy, policy analysis, program evaluation, sociology, psychology, economics, geography, law, political science, social work, environmental planning and public administration.