The UK government proposes to use data and evidence as the basis for deciding which policy initiatives to implement, in this Cabinet Office paper. The paper, co-authored by Ben Goldacre (who we've mentioned here before), proposes using randomized trials to evaluate the efficacy of government programs. It's like applying the 'Moneyball' principles to government policy: rather than using anecdotes and ideology to decide how to spend government money, why not try policies out on a small scale first and see what works?
The US government has recently begun applying such trials to evaluate programs at the federal and state level, as well.
Comments