The progressive ideals behind Open Government Data are being used t further interests of the neoliberal state.

The LSE Impact Blog knows the secret to brightening any Monday...a bit of neoliberalism and Big Data.

A range of social actors are pushing for Open Government Data, from open research advocates to the private sector, resulting in a complex and contested landscape. Jo Bates examines recent developments on how the government have been able to use the rhetoric of transparency for political ends, paving the way for the implementation of long term austerity. She argues we cannot make assumptions about the benefits of ‘openness’ and must continue to revisit the data infrastructure and governance framework.

Policy and governancePower to Persuade27 October 2014politics and democracy

Negative stereotypes and evidence-based policy

Cynicism has been creeping into debates over evidence-based policy. We've certainly noticed this in the last two PTP symposiums, with speakers urging a more realistic adoption of 'informed policy'. Below,Kathryn Oliver, Simon Innvær, Theo Lorenc, Jenny Woodman, andJames Thomas examine some of the on-going barriers to evidence-based (and even evidence-informed) policy. This post originally appeared on the LSE Impact Blog.

Whats wrong with impact agenda?

Dr James Rees (@JamesRees_tsrc) from the Third Sector Research Centre examines the challenges of emerging 'impact agendas' with regard to funding community sector organisations. This is the second of three blog posts from James which tackle different aspects of this issue.Part one, Taming the monster', examined the value add of the community sector in service delivery and policy implementation.

Creating using evidencePower to Persuade23 October 2014outcome and impacts

Sponsored policy research: getting the right balance between academic policy and its 'usefulness'

This post originally appeared on Professor Christina Boswell's personal blog, but we felt it was highly relevant in Australia particularly given the recently announced review of the ARC's Cooperative Research Centre program. Christina in a Professor of Politics at the University of Edinburgh, her research explores the use of knowledge in policymaking and politics.

What should we be paying attention to in policy, cause or effect?

When we think about policy and politics, we tend to gravitate to the elite - concentrating on the efforts of a select few in shaping the process. In today's post, Dr Kemran Mestan provides a timely reminder to not lose sight of policy effects.

Kemran is a senior research officer at La Trobe University, you can read more about his research here.

Creating using evidencePower to Persuade20 October 2014outcome and impacts

A closer look at policy targeting and its role in addressing inequality

Policy that targets those groups most in need is the fairest way to distribute limited resources, right? Not necessarily, writes Dr Gemma Carey.

What do we do when the public services market fails?

What happens when outsourced contractors are no longer able or willing to continue with the provision of public services? In this post below from the London School of Economics and Political Science blog British Politics and Policy, Bob Hudson explores the downsides of outsourcing public services and writes that public services should be seen as something more than a contract put out to the market to secure ‘value for money’.

Policy and governancePower to Persuade17 October 2014markets in public services

From Choice to voice in Social Service Reform

In his latest Social Policy Whisperer column below, Prof. Paul Smyth from the University of Melbourne says we should not be looking for advice on the future of our social services from a quasi market perspective.

Nuances of evidence-based policy

Creating using evidencePower to Persuade10 October 2014evidence-based policy

The future of the public service: generalist or specialist roles?

The 21st Century Public Servant project is examining the major changes occurring for public servants and the concomitant skill and knowledge base required to adjust to them. These include cuts to budgets, increased localisation, greater demands for service user voice and control, increased public expectations and a mixed economy of welfare provision. The project builds on the findings of the 2011 University of Birmingham Policy Commission into the ‘Future of Local Public Services’ which identified the need to pay attention to the changing roles undertaken by public servants and the associated support and development needs.It is a Knowledge Exchange project funded by the Economic and Social Research Council in partnership with Birmingham City Council.

This year, Associate Professor Helen Dickinson (@drhdickinson) and Professor Helen Sullivan (@helenCsullivan) from the Melbourne School of Government have been conducting a number of interviews in Australia exploring similar issues to the English project. Below, Helen provides some early reflections from this analysis (first published on the 21C blog). Their findings suggest that soft skills (communication, brokering and so on) are increasingly critical for an effective public sector.

Policy and governanceDr. Gemma Carey9 October 2014policy making

Embracing the messy: systems-thinking in public policy

In many fields, from healthcare to social policy, we are experiencing a renaissance when it comes to embracing the ‘messy’. ‘Systems thinking’ – where we learn to look beyond objects to embrace the relationships between them and the messy ‘whole’ they create – has seen significant advances in recent years, particularly in relation to how we can extend these concepts from the natural sciences to explore social problems, such as obesity, crime and tobacco control. Below, a real life story of what systems thinking can bring to public policy provided by Joseph A. Curtatone and Mark Esposito (and first shared on the LSE Impact Blog). For more on systems thinking check out 'Systems Change' and 'Thinking in Systems'.

Policy and governancePower to Persuade7 October 2014policy making

Data, more data and statistics

At this year's Power to Persuade Symposium, we looked at the role of data vs anecdote in influencing policy. Prof Richard Madden, from Sydney University, reminded us that statistics also have a good story to tell if we are only prepared to listen...

Creating using evidencePower to Persuade4 October 2014research

Community legal centers challenged to weather the storm of funding cuts and advocacy restrictions

Community legal centres are dealing funding cuts and restrictions on advocacy that could have serious ramifications for access to justice for vulnerable people across the country.Carolyn Bond AO, national spokesperson for the Community Law Australia (@CommunityLawAus) access to justice campaign, outlines the changes and explains their likely impact on access to justice, freedom of speech and the development of sound justice policies.

Finance and economics, IssuesPower to Persuade30 September 2014funding models, law

Harper Review needs to consider the consumer experience of competition

Where is the voice of the consumer when it comes to opening up markets and enabling greater 'choice'? Following on from Paul Smyth's critique of the Harper Review, @gerardbrody from @consumer_action considers the limitations of competition and market theories as they apply to consumer behaviour, and the distinct lack of voice of consumers in the review.

Policy and governanceProfessor Paul Smyth26 September 2014markets in public services

Social Policy Whisperer - "We are only Economists": The Draft Report of the Competition Policy Review

Reviewing the health of the social sectors requires an appreciation of social work, political science and sociology theories. Why then , is it left in the hands of economists? Social Policy Whisperer, Prof Paul Smyth, shares his reflections on the Competition Policy Review.

Forge ahead to have a place at the table: the community sector and policy change

Policy and governance, AdvocacyPower to Persuade23 September 2014community sector, communication

Participatory research with young people: why, how and what might happen

By Leo Fieldgrass, National Director of the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition (AYAC) and Manager of Participation and Development at the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVic)

Creating using evidence, IssuesPower to Persuade20 September 2014research, social inequalities, young people

Power to Persuade: a Twitter guide to social policy change and challenge

The third annual Power to Persuade symposium was held in Melbourne this week. Thanks to Susan Maury, Social Policy Researcher at Good Shepherd Youth and Family Service for putting together this comprehensive Twitter account of the day. Click the Storify link below if you missed or would like to refresh your memory of the conversations the event generated, in the room and beyond.

Policy and governancePower to Persuade19 September 2014cross-sector relationships, susan maury

Finding the power and principles to persuade: synopsis of a symposium

The third annual Power to Persuade symposium was hosted in Melbourne this week, featuring Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) CEO Cassandra Goldie, education and marketing commentator Jane Caro, and author James Button, plus panels of experts from across the academic, community and public sectors.

Policy and governancePower to Persuade16 September 2014cross-sector relationships

Why 'real' policy impact is so difficult to evidence

In this post below, republished with permission, Professor Christina Boswell asks how we can tell what function research is playing in policy-making? It's a timely question ahead of tomorrow's 2014 Power to Persuade symposium.

Christina Boswell is Professor of Politics at the University of Edinburgh and writes on politics, knowledge and immigration at her blog, where this article was originally published.

Creating using evidencePower to Persuade15 September 2014outcome and impacts

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