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Can indicators fill the gap between science and policy? An exploration of the (non) use and (non) influence of indicators in EU and UK policymaking

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journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 18:46 authored by Léa Sébastien, Tom Bauler, Markku Lehtonen
This article examines the various roles that indicators, as boundary objects, can play as a science-based evidence for policy processes. It presents two case studies from the EU-funded POINT project that examined the use and influence of two highly different types of indicators: composite indicators of sustainable development at the EU level and energy indicators in the UK. In both cases indicators failed as direct input to policy making, yet they generated various types of conceptual and political use and influence. The composite sustainable development indicators served as “framework indicators”, helping to advocate a specific vision of sustainable development, whereas the energy indicators produced various types of indirect influence, including through the process of indicator elaboration. Our case studies demonstrate the relatively limited importance of the characteristics and quality of indicators in determining the role of indicators, as compared with the crucial importance of “user factors” (characteristics of policy actors) and “policy factors” (policy context).

Funding

POINT: Policy Influence of Indicators; G0472; EUROPEAN UNION; SSHCT2008217207

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

Nature and Culture

ISSN

1558-6073

Publisher

Berghahn Journals

Issue

3

Volume

9

Page range

316-343

Department affiliated with

  • SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2014-11-06

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2014-11-06

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2014-10-21

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