Making facts and telling furphies with economic modelling: Cost-benefit analysis in the post-truth era

Leo Dobes*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

    1 Citation (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Classic post-war ‘nation-building’ project proposals were generally subjected to detailed analysis. Selected Australian case studies reveal a contrasting, post-truth approach to evaluation in more recent times, with governments ignoring or avoiding professional expertise when promoting their favoured projects and policies. A lack of formal standards for economic evaluation in Australia, such as those promulgated by Congress and presidents in the US, are a partial explanation. A concomitant hollowing-out of public service expertise in economic analysis has also occurred. In particular, public-sector agencies have lost much of their capability to properly understand and assess evaluations carried out on their behalf by commercial consultants. An effective antidote to the post-truth approach in evaluation would be the production and publication of analyses for all major government policy and project proposals, as well as the development of a standardised analytical framework and training for public servants.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationHybrid Public Policy Innovations
    Subtitle of host publicationContemporary Policy Beyond Ideology
    PublisherTaylor and Francis
    Pages83-96
    Number of pages14
    ISBN (Electronic)9781351245944
    ISBN (Print)9780815371809
    Publication statusPublished - 12 Mar 2018

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