Friday 15 August 2008

Do facts matter in public policy?

As I reread the New Scientist editorial, "Scientific testing can prevent policy disasters", I was reminded of Michelle's recent post about GTA and other violent video games. Many people have ideas that they are sure will help make society better, such as bans on violent video games, not allowing under 20s into clubs, and so on, but they rarely present any evidence that their proposed "solution" will work as intended. For example, many car accidents are caused by new drivers, so won't giving them driving lessons at school reduce accidents? Sounds like a good idea? I agree. The trouble is, it's wrong. When the study was done, it showed that driving lessons in school increased the number of car accidents (Muir, 2008)!

The problem that Michelle's post and the articles in New Scientist raise seem to me to be very common. Can you think of other examples of government policy that sound good, but are based on zero factual research and evidence? Why is this so common? Do you think it's common? What can be done to improve things? And I guess it also needs to be asked, why do you think your solution to this problem will be effective?

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References
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3 comments:

  1. michelle16 August 2008 at 07:10

    I guess that there might have no solution which perfectly prevent crime of video and online games wherever allwing kind of game countries. If there is any effective solution, it could be carry into force throughout the many countries. There is limit to make law or regular to prevent right of provider and user. Video and online games are one of product for business and these are very popular nowadays. If you can don't care any right of private person, business, socity and culture, we can make very strong and unaccuptable law.

    sorry. I will supplement again tonight.

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  2. Gus18 August 2008 at 19:19

    "Loan for poor" is the policy of Thaksin government that the poor poeple think it is a good policy. This policy provide money for poor to loan for their businesses or works. This sounds like a good idea, but I disagree. I think this policy make the poors become a lot of debt because most of them are not have good education. They don't know how to manage or do that money grow up. I think "Sustainable Economy" of King Rama IX is the best policy to solve this problem. This can develop our country to grow strong and stable. Sustainable Economy is the policy that guide Thai people to live a sufficient life. This policy involves the development based on the middle-way practices and carefulness. It also concern a mindful, logical and sufficient life.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous19 August 2008 at 04:58

    In response to Gus's comment I want to ask a couple of questions:
    1. is there evidence that loans to the poor made by Taksin's government made their situation worse?
    2. is there any evidence that a low education makes people unable to manage money?
    3. is there any evidence that the "Sustainable Economy" does or could work?

    ReplyDelete

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