Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Researchers are pushing for more evidence-based policies from the current government, arguing that the quality of policies born from research are often superior to those born from mere observation or knee-jerk reactions.

Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) political researcher Vidhyandika Djati Perkasa said that a focus on evidence-based policies was needed to transform the way the country was being developed.

"The aim is to transform policies that are usually being driven by politics to maintain political legitimacy into a more rational approach by seeking evidence," he said at the CSIS' office in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta.

Evidence-based policy is defined as an approach that helps people make well-informed decisions about policies, programs and projects by putting the best available evidence from research at the heart of policy development and implementation.

"While it is difficult to gauge the relationship between good evidence and good policy, there's a tendency that good evidence produces good policy," Vidhyandika said.

In terms of the current government, he said that some questions still remain. "Is there any difference between President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in terms of the data being used to make policies?" asked Vidhyandika.

Another CSIS political researcher, Philips J. Vermonte, admitted that the government tended to make policies that would gain public approval. "Decision makers also consider electoral politics. They often pay attention to public perception so that they ignore the best policies," he said.

Vidhyandika also cited some problems that could prevent the current government from shifting to evidence-based policies. "Our expenditure for research and design is so small: only 0.07 percent of the state budget," Vidhyandika said.

Philips pointed out the small number of think tanks in the country. "There is a huge opportunity for think tanks, but the hurdle is also big because our numbers are few, so the competition is not fierce. Therefore, the output is also small," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/01/26/researchers-push-more-evidence-based-policies.html