[ANSWER]Public Policy Paper: Is Evidence-Based Policy and Regulation Possible?

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Public Policy Paper

The significance of EBP cannot be overemphasised. EBP helps policymakers make informed decisions when it comes to public initiatives and programmes aimed at addressing public problems. In accordance with EBP principles, policymakers make use of the best available research evidence to solve a problem of public interest (Maddison & Dennis, 2013, p. 209).

Fundamentally, research evidence on a given issue means that the evidence has been examined from a scholarly perspective. Public Policy Paper

It also means that the proposals or solutions recommended to address the issue have been demonstrated to be effective in achieving the desired outcomes (Productivity Commission, 2010, p. 5).

As an example, it is widely known from scientific evidence that climate change is primarily attributable to anthropogenic causes. Accordingly, Public Policy Paper climate change policy informed by this evidence is more likely to be successful in reducing carbon emissions and reversing global warming.  

Besides enhancing the effectiveness of policy, EBP enables policymakers to have knowledge of the expected outcomes of policy options. Intuitive or conventional knowledge is useful, but it can often be wrong or misleading (Productivity Commission, 2010, p. 5). When policy decisions are made based on conventional knowledge, there is the possibility of unintended and adverse outcomes not being known prior to policy implementation.

A policymaking process informed by evidence helps in mitigating this risk. In the US, for example, an initiative aimed at preventing reoffending among juvenile offenders was found to have the opposite effect (Productivity Commission, 2010, p. 5). With evidence on the possible outcomes of a given policy option, policymakers have knowledge of what to expect when they implement the option.

EBP is also important when dealing with complex policy issues. Sometimes even seemingly simple public problems may not have a clear-cut answer (Head, 2010, p. 21).

For instance, whereas childcare is often viewed from a binary perspective whereby it is either beneficial or not beneficial for children, research has shown that the issue is much more complex (Productivity Commission, 2010, p. 5). In particular, evidence on paid parental leave has demonstrated that whereas the initiation of non-parental care when the child is 3-6 months may Public Policy Paper result in problems such as low-quality care, the outcomes for children aged 12-18 months may be positive.

This is a good example of just how complex some policy problems can be. Research evidence helps in clarifying this complexity. The importance of EBP further stems from the persuasive nature of research evidence.

As research evidence is typically generated through rigorous processes, it often does not struggle to gain public legitimacy (Productivity Commission, 2010, p. 5). This persuasive power is crucial to shaping policy discourses. The issue of climate change is a good example. Research conducted since the mid-20th century has convincingly demonstrated a link between…[Buy Full Answer for Just USD 9: 4531 WORDS]

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Public Policy Paper

Word Count: 4531

Grade/Mark: 87 (Distinction)

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