Jensen, P., “What is Evidence-Based Policy?” Melbourne Institute Policy Brief No. 4/13, August 2013*
Around election time, politicians often call on the need for more ‘evidence-based policy’. This message is simple, but the importance of being able to distinguish strong evidence from weak evidence is often forgotten. In this Policy Brief, the rationale underpinning the ‘evidence-based’ approach to public policy is carefully explained, as are the pros and cons of the different methods used to construct the evidence base.
*The Policy Brief Series is a new collection of research publications produced by the Melbourne Institute. This series examines current policy issues and provides an independent platform to examine pertinent issues in public debate.