Valuation tools and politicians’ willingness to sell public real estate: a survey experiment

Abstract

Public managers often employ valuation tools to support policymakers. These tools are expected to rationalize decision-making. Using a vignette-based, randomized survey experiment with Flemish politicians, the authors study the effect of the type of valuation tool, valuation outcome, and asset salience on politicians’ willingness to sell public real estate assets. The purpose is to test whether valuation tools indeed spark rational reactions from politicians, thus demonstrating their value as decision-making support. Findings suggest that cognitive biases emerge when politicians are confronted with valuation tools. Public managers need to take those biases in account when employing valuation tools.