Distinguishing and integrating universalism and context in the common good: A normative conceptual framework for evaluating public goods

Despite its long history in public policy and administration, the common good remains a subject of debate and ambiguity. Debates over whether it is universal or contextual have complicated its application and the evaluation of public goods’ contributions. Drawing on common good, public administration, and policy research, this paper develops a normative conceptual framework that distinguishes and integrates these perspectives while enabling the evaluation of public goods. The analysis focuses on three linked features of the common good: sharing, community, and goodness—understood as collective benefit, participation, and well-being. The paper concludes by summarizing the results, discussing implications for governance, policy, and research, acknowledging limitations, and suggesting directions for application and future empirical study.