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How can we demonstrate the public value of evidence-based policy making when government ministers declare that the people ‘have had enough of experts’?

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  • Leighton Andrews

    (Cardiff University)

Abstract

Recent political campaigns on both sides of the Atlantic have led some to argue that we live in the age of ‘post-factual’ or ‘post-truth’ politics, suggesting evidence has a limited role in debate and public policy. How can we demonstrate the public value of evidence-informed debate under those circumstances? Survey evidence on public attitudes to expertise offers some hope that the tone of much of this debate is unduly pessimistic. While policy-making always develops in an environment where evidence is contested, this paper will argue that understanding of the routines through which Ministers work and assimilate evidence is actually under-researched. Not only are Ministers open to evidence, but there is an institutional grounding for evidence-based policy in government. Meanwhile, the creation of devolved institutions has created new sites in the UK for evidence-based policy-making, despite the political tensions between UK and devolved governments. Drawing on academic and think tank insights, and experience as a Welsh Government Minister between 2007 and 2016, this paper argues for three key approaches for the academic community to adopt: understanding the temporal focus of ministers, building trust amongst ministers and those who advise them in the evidence-promoting capacity of the academic policy community, and shaping the wider authorising environment, including the media that contributes to the framing of key policy debates.

Suggested Citation

  • Leighton Andrews, 2017. "How can we demonstrate the public value of evidence-based policy making when government ministers declare that the people ‘have had enough of experts’?," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 3(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:3:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-017-0013-4
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-017-0013-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Margaret Dalziel, 2018. "Why are there (almost) no randomised controlled trial-based evaluations of business support programmes?," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 4(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Ruth Mayne & Duncan Green & Irene Guijt & Martin Walsh & Richard English & Paul Cairney, 2018. "Using evidence to influence policy: Oxfam’s experience," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 4(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Noam Obermeister, 2020. "Tapping into science advisers’ learning," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 6(1), pages 1-9, December.
    4. Lindsay A Walker & Natalia S Lawrence & Chris D Chambers & Marsha Wood & Julie Barnett & Hannah Durrant & Lindsey Pike & Gerard O’Grady & Sven Bestmann & Andrew P Kythreotis, 2019. "Supporting evidence-informed policy and scrutiny: A consultation of UK research professionals," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(3), pages 1-19, March.

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