Catching up or slipping behind? Are policy makers embracing the potential of data analytics?
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Transcript of Catching up or slipping behind? Are policy makers embracing the potential of data analytics?
Giovanni TonuttiPolicy in Practice
CATCHING UP OR
SLIPPING BEHIND?
Are policy makers embracing
the potential of data analytics?
A UK example
Agenda
1. Introduction to Policy in Practice
2. The power of administrative data
3. The challenges facing policy makers and the use of data
4. The vision
5. Q&A
We make the welfare system simple to understand, so that people can make the decisions that are right for them
www.policyinpractice.co.uk
Policy
national impact
CONSULTANC
local impact
Software
Individual impact
Administrative data
Collected to administer a wide range of public services
Administrative data is:
• Accurate and up-to-date
• Standardised and scalable
• At the household-level
But:
• It is rarely used beyond administrative purposes
Unlocking the potential of this data to improve the design and delivery of social policy
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The challenges
1. The silos mentality
• Public sector departments devise and deliver policies in isolation
• Little consideration of the combined effects of different policies on people
• Information and data are not shared among relevant stakeholders
Local example in Leeds
“I can’t see whether the people affected by national policy changes are the same people that have been
clobbered by other local reforms.”
Steve Carey, Leeds City Council
A person centred approach
2. Lack of systematic evaluation of policy effectiveness
Administrative data can support the work of policy makers at all levels of the policy cycle.
Monitoring and evaluation of policy effectiveness is very poor.
• Some examples at the central government level (one-off exercises) and not systematic
• Almost not existing at the local level.
Pooling data across London
Track behavioural changes
3. Support is reactive and not predictive
• Predictive analytics has not reached the public sector
• Future projections are done at aggregate level, little operational insight.
• Growing awareness of the importance of preventative action, but developments are tied down to low investments.
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The vision
• In the public sector, digitalisation seen as a way to deliver efficiencies.
• Years of austerity policies meant that the emphasis was on fewer resources, lower costs to achieve the same outcomes
Efficiency before effectiveness
• Ambitious programme to bring together 6 different benefits from 3 different departments under 1 system
• Simplify the benefit system to help people better understand their circumstances, and empower them in their choices
• Digitalisation key role
• Government saw this as opportunity to make savings
• Reducing frontline staff
• Initial policy intent has been diluted in striving for efficiencies
Example: Universal Credit
Let’s turn the equation on its head!
• The aim of digitalisation and data analytics should be better outcomes
• Better outcomes in social polices leads to efficiencies.
• Helping people towards greater independence means less public spending.
Effectiveness before efficiency
Better outcomes for
people
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Catching up or slipping behind?