Thursday, March 24, 2022

Practical market design and public policy

 Market designers who want to influence practice have some things in common with makers of public policy. Here are some reflections, in Nature, by Chen Chien-jen, a distinguished epidemiologist who recently finished a term as Vice President of Taiwan.

Taiwan’s pandemic vice-president — from lab bench to public office and back. Successful policy and preparedness require more diverse evidence than researchers often encounter. by Chen Chien-jen

"The first lesson: scientific training teaches us to seek out all the variables that might affect a system. My work as a minister taught me to expand that list of variables far beyond what is typical. Budgets, laws, staffing levels and more enter the picture. So do values and priorities.

...

"The second lesson: science is never enough to bring about a thriving society. That takes trust, robust institutions and social cohesion

...

"The third lesson: infectious and toxic agents have impacts that last for decades, so long-range investments in scientific infrastructure pay off. But action must be quick.

...

"For treatments to be effective, patients must receive them, which depends on where they are offered, what patients have to pay and what makes them inconvenient and uncomfortable."

No comments: