Policy & Evidence in a Partisan Age ─ The Great Disconnect

Wyckoff (public policy, Hamilton College) argues that public policy debates in the United States are frequently hampered by a mismatch between exaggerated claims made for the effectiveness of public policy interventions and the evidence that shows their limited impact. In support of this argument he reviews the quantitative empirical work concerning short-term fiscal policy, long-term growth policy, education, state and local economic development, and welfare. He then analyzes the reason for the mismatch between rhetoric and reality and makes recommendations for changes in the way economics, statistics, and law are taught in order to overcome it. Annotation c2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)