Many thanks for the response Abby. Certainly, the science/policy nexus is an area that is critically important, fascinating and frequently highly frustrating! I agree, that bureaucrats have to be across many topics simultaneously, and this often precludes possessing detailed knowledge in particular areas – however, this is precisely why we need recourse to scientific expertise; to inform policy, its implementation and the monitoring of its effectiveness. From an anecdotal perspective of operating within a large bureaucracy as a science-policy adviser, the paucity of context specific knowledge demonstrated as one climbs higher up the bureaucratic food chain, is often breathtaking. This situation is also encapsulated nicely in the literature, via this gem from Tullock (1965), 'The Politics of Bureaucracy':
"...in practice, high-level officials frequently demonstrate publicly the most egregious ignorance concerning the area that they allegedly supervise."
Coyne (2008) in "The Politics of Bureaucracy and the failure of post-war reconstruction", examines the reasons for this.
You make a really important point in your comment, regarding the need for greater accountability of information use, as policy strives to move from input/output driven progress to an approach that demonstrates performance against outcomes.
Good luck with similar future events. All the best, Simon
Many thanks for the response Abby. Certainly, the science/policy nexus is an area that is critically important, fascinating and frequently highly frustrating! I agree, that bureaucrats have to be across many topics simultaneously, and this often precludes possessing detailed knowledge in particular areas – however, this is precisely why we need recourse to scientific expertise; to inform policy, its implementation and the monitoring of its effectiveness. From an anecdotal perspective of operating within a large bureaucracy as a science-policy adviser, the paucity of context specific knowledge demonstrated as one climbs higher up the bureaucratic food chain, is often breathtaking. This situation is also encapsulated nicely in the literature, via this gem from Tullock (1965), 'The Politics of Bureaucracy':
"...in practice, high-level officials frequently demonstrate publicly the most egregious ignorance concerning the area that they allegedly supervise."
Coyne (2008) in "The Politics of Bureaucracy and the failure of post-war reconstruction", examines the reasons for this.
You make a really important point in your comment, regarding the need for greater accountability of information use, as policy strives to move from input/output driven progress to an approach that demonstrates performance against outcomes.
Good luck with similar future events. All the best, Simon