Independent Institute for Impact Analysis
What do political decisions actually change, who do their consequences affect and at what cost?
Our analyses bring together economic, legal, regulatory and administrative expertise. We examine public policy according to its actual effects on people, the economy, society and the environment.
We believe democracies are more resilient when political and institutional decisions are grounded in evidence rather than assumptions. Our work creates robust foundations for parliamentary and ministerial decisions, public administration, businesses and associations, as well as media and press work. The aim is more informed debate and better decisions.
Impact analysis
Decisions work through law, resources and incentives. Their consequences emerge through implementation and through the responses of people, businesses and institutions.
ValuePolitics traces the path from a decision to its actual effects. We examine what changes, who is affected, what costs and benefits arise, and to what extent observed effects can be attributed to a decision.
As a rule, we calculate effects in monetary terms. This makes them comparable and understandable to the public. We compare policy options, disclose assumptions and make uncertainty transparent.
This is impact analysis.
The central analysis format
The ImpactScan is ValuePolitics' central analysis format. It examines decisions, measures or policy options in the form of a concise expert report. An ImpactScan can inform a decision, accompany its implementation or examine its effects after the event.
We systematically evaluate available data, assess its relevance to the case and bring it together. We use scientific methods of impact valuation and Large Language Models (LLMs) for research, data structuring and analysis. This enables impact analyses at the pace required by public debate and political decision-making.
An ImpactScan shows societal effects, their distribution, the costs involved and the uncertainty of the findings. It maps the path from a decision to its effects and examines direct, indirect, intended and unintended consequences. Where methodologically sound, effects can be expressed as Social Return on Investment.
Every ImpactScan follows the principle of methodological transparency. Sources, assumptions, calculations and limitations are disclosed. ValuePolitics retains responsibility for methodology, evaluation and publication. Results can be published on valuepolitics.com as an interactive HTML dashboard.
ImpactScan
What impact can investment in safe routes to school in Saxony have?
The potential analysis prioritises 400 accident hotspots near schools by historically modelled accident costs. It does not identify site-specific interventions, costs or impact forecasts.
View ImpactScanKey finding
4,65:1Every euro invested is associated with EUR 4,65 in avoided societal accident costs.
Baseline scenario: 50 accident hotspots, estimated investment volume of EUR 6.25 million.Approach
Our methodology does not only quantify effects; it also values them. Different indicators are expressed in an understandable unit: money. This makes results comprehensible to a broad public.
The results can therefore also be related to financial metrics. This makes different policy options genuinely comparable and enables well-founded decisions.
We value different indicators, units and variables in monetary terms using established economic and social-science methods, including willingness to pay, revealed preferences and shadow pricing.
Commissioning
ValuePolitics develops ImpactScans on behalf of institutions, businesses, associations and organisations, as well as on its own initiative.
Depending on the question, we provide preliminary assessments, evidence syntheses, in-depth impact analyses, legislative impact assessments and regulatory impact assessments.
The ImpactScan is a concise, scientifically grounded expert report. It makes the consequences of decisions for people, the economy, society and the environment understandable and comparable in monetary terms within a short timeframe.
It helps prepare political decisions, accompany ongoing debates and measure completed projects by their effects.
ValuePolitics is an independent institute for impact analysis. The client determines the research question, the scope of the analysis and how publication is handled. ValuePolitics is responsible for the methodology, data analysis and results. ValuePolitics works with an open outcome. The professional standards of ValuePolitics apply without restriction to confidential analyses. This is how we safeguard the quality and reliability of our work.
Discuss a questionAbout ValuePolitics
ValuePolitics is an independent impact analysis institute founded in July 2026. We combine deep knowledge of government and political practice with economic, legal and regulatory analysis.
Our mission: In a high-performing democracy, political decisions must be made transparently and be understandable to the public through their objectives, alternatives, impact assumptions and uncertainties, rather than resting on assertions.
Our standard: Political decisions cannot wait months for a study. We therefore develop impact analyses quickly and remain close to public debate.
This is how we create evidence for better decisions.
Founder and Managing Director
Mathias Weilandt is a lawyer and former State Secretary. As Head of Office at the Saxon State Ministry of Justice and for European Affairs, he worked on legislation and political impact analysis at federal, state and EU level. As Saxony's youngest prison director and State Executive Director of Alliance 90/The Greens in Saxony, he gained extensive experience in leadership, organisation and strategic communication.
Founder
Dr Richard Scholz is an economist and teaches economics at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences. He was a member of the Committee of the International Foundation for Valuing Impacts and the Methodological Board of the Value Balancing Alliance. In collaboration with the European Commission, ministries and associations, as well as development banks and multinational companies, he advances international methodological standards for impact analysis.
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Would you like to examine the effects of decisions, measures or policy options on people, society, the economy and the environment? We would be glad to discuss it with you.
