UK pledges funding for evidence-based policymaking

In a significant stride towards evidence-based policymaking, the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Wellcome Trust have pledged a combined sum of approximately £54 million to build a comprehensive database and tools aimed at collating and analysing evidence on complex issues such as climate change and healthy ageing. The announcement coincided with the UN Summit of the Future held in New York, underscoring a global commitment to improve the world for future generations.

Modern governance is riddled with pressing questions, from the impact of working from home on productivity to the efficacy of low-traffic neighbourhoods in reducing air pollution. Unlike the definitive results garnered from clinical trials in healthcare, many policy interventions, such as those in crime prevention, often lack rigorous evaluation. This has led to the establishment of “evidence banks” or evidence syntheses—centralised repositories where comprehensive data and analysis on specific topics are made accessible globally.

The newly announced funding seeks to bolster these efforts, addressing a “tragic shortfall” in quality evidence available to governments and policymakers, as noted by ESRC executive chair, Stian Westlake. Westlake highlighted the pitfalls of ineffective policymaking, likening it to “shooting in the dark,” where public funds are often misallocated in the pursuit of tackling significant societal issues.

One stark example of misguided policy is the “Scared Straight” programme, initially introduced in the US and later adopted in the UK. Designed to deter juvenile delinquency by exposing teens to the realities of prison life, the scheme was counterproductive. Subsequent reviews revealed that participants were actually more likely to commit crimes compared to their non-participating peers.

In the UK, initiatives like the Youth Endowment Fund have begun to make strides in evaluating policies aimed at preventing youth crime. The fund is part of the What Works Network, an initiative launched by the government in 2013 to enhance decision-making across various sectors, including crime, education, and homelessness. This network has already proved beneficial, often informing the practices of school governors and other stakeholders in the education sector.

However, even a decade after its establishment, there remains room for improvement. Evidence can only be impactful if policymakers know where to find it and how to apply it. The newly allocated funds from ESRC and the Wellcome Trust are expected to enhance this capability significantly.

The Campbell Collaboration, an existing global non-profit organisation dedicated to compiling social science research findings, will likely see enhanced support and collaboration as part of these new efforts. Another exciting development is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to expedite and refine the evidence synthesis process. Currently, synthesising evidence involves a thorough and time-consuming process of searching, evaluating, and summarising relevant studies, which can take several months.

AI, with human oversight, offers the potential to streamline this process, allowing for quicker and more efficient analysis, ultimately leading to faster policy responses. Civil servants in the UK are already exploring the use of an AI tool called Redbox Copilot to analyse and summarise government documents, with the possibility of integrating these new evidence banks into the system.

Moreover, these AI-driven evidence syntheses could be continually updated, ensuring that the information remains current and relevant. This speaks to a dynamic, “living” evidence system that evolves in real-time with new research.

As these one-stop shops for evidence are developed, it is crucial that there is an expectation for policymakers to actively use them. This uptake may require training to ensure civil servants and ministers can navigate and apply the information effectively. Adhering to the Nolan principles of public life, which advocate decision-making based on the best available evidence, will further enhance the integrity and efficacy of public policies.

The integration of robust evidence into policymaking shines a light on potential pathways and helps avoid known pitfalls, ensuring a more informed approach to governance that does not negate the role of values in shaping society but rather complements it with data-driven insights.

Source: Noah Wire Services