What is Evidence-Based Policy?

Melbourne Institute Policy Brief No. 04/13

Date: 2013

Author(s):

Paul H. Jensen

Abstract

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.

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