Data Science for Policy Analysis and Advice

In recent years, technological advancements have made it possible for policy researchers to collect new types of data. They have also expanded the set of tools used to make sense of political developments and communicate research results. Now, more and more think tanks are exploring the potential of data science to provide data-driven policy advice. In this lunch talk, we will clarify what we mean when we speak of using data science for policy analysis. We will discuss the opportunities and risks of data-driven, quantitative methodologies in policy advice, and share lessons learned from data science projects carried out by think tanks in Europe and the United States.