| Improving the Use of Science in Regulatory Policy |
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bridges vol. 23, October 2009 / Feature Articles By David Goldston and Josh Trapani 
"... Some of the problems at the intersection of science and policy are systemic; they will not magically vanish ..."
A recent report from the Bipartisan Policy Center is designed to help resolve those systemic problems. (The full text of the report, which includes an Executive Summary, can be found at www.bipartisanpolicy.org/projects/science-policy .) The report's fundamental point is that too often policy makers conflate science questions and policy questions when debating regulatory matters, and this can confuse the discussion, obscure the real issues and prompt spurious charges about science. In effect, the report says, problems occur not only when science is "politicized," but also when politics are "scientized," that is when debates that are actually about economics or ethics or policy choices are framed as questions about the validity of findings in the natural or physical sciences. The report recommends specific steps the Obama Administration should take to help avoid this confusion of science and politics, and to make the development of regulatory policy more transparent by, for example, clarifying rules concerning conflicts of interest. Access to the full article is free, but requires you to register. Registration is simple and quick – all we need is your name and a valid e-mail address. We appreciate your interest in bridges. |
