Dr Nicholas Gruen, Lateral Economics CEO, presents his views on the slow pace of change surrounding the greater adoption of the concept of evidence-based policy.

To produce evidence with ‘impact’, and know how to ‘make evidence count’, we need to understand the policy process and how evidence is produced and used in a complex system.

This Policy Brief outlines a decision-making framework that recognises the importance of the relationship between service providers and clients, and the need for evidence-based interventions to be aligned with client needs, priorities and values.

What is the role of science as an institution in a world where trust in institutions, elites and experts may be in decline? How can we ensure respect for the place of scientifically derived knowledge?

This review takes two contrasting areas where behavioural insights have been used: tax collection where government policy is compulsory (i.e. requiring compliance), and energy use where social objectives are non-compulsory, and achieved more by persuasion and encouragement.