Description
Flag a supplied indicator's change in the declared preferred direction.
Policy analysis depends on declared eligibility bounds, reference periods, indicator direction and resource denominators. A linear phase-in or household weight is an explicit scenario assumption. A preferred-direction change, age predicate or cost contribution does not establish policy effectiveness, causal impact, actual eligibility or the governing legal rule.
Flag a supplied indicator's change in the declared preferred direction.
When to use this tool
Use Policy Indicator Direction Change Token when you already have previousValue, currentValue, higherPreferred and need to flag a supplied indicator's change in the declared preferred direction.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter previousValue, currentValue, higherPreferred. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read signedChange, preferredDirectionChange, unchanged. Inspect preferredDirectionChange, unchanged before interpreting the associated values.
Return current-previous, literal equality as unchanged, and a strict increase/decrease flag according to higherPreferred.1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| previousValue | Previous Value | Required. Finite number. |
| currentValue | Current Value | Required. Finite number. |
| higherPreferred | Higher Preferred | Required. Boolean. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| signedChange | Signed Change | Required. Finite number. |
| preferredDirectionChange | Strict movement in the supplied preferred direction; false at equality. | Required. Boolean. |
| unchanged | Unchanged | Required. Boolean. |
{
"input": {
"previousValue": 40,
"currentValue": 35,
"higherPreferred": false
},
"output": {
"signedChange": -5,
"preferredDirectionChange": true,
"unchanged": false
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- Preferred direction is a caller judgment; no causality, policy effectiveness or statistical significance is established.
- Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
- Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Numeric signed-zero results are exported as zero.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Use the full eligibility or phase-in rule and its source when evaluating a real policy record. For effectiveness questions, use a study design that addresses the comparator, timing and population; local costs or direction flags alone do not supply that evidence.
References
Similar or alternative tools
- Effect Size Signed Reference Change
Reverse a supplied effect size's reference sign when requested.
- Paired Difference Reference Sign
Calculate a paired difference under an explicit reference direction.