Evidence-based Policymaking Tool - International Comparisons

International Comparisons in Policymaking Toolkit
(Government's Centre for Management and Policy Studies (CMPS), 2002)

What is it?
This toolkit is a response to the Modernising Government White Paper, which stated that government needed to become 'more forward and outward looking' (Modernising Government White Paper). This means learning lessons from other countries and integrating the EU and international dimension into policymaking: 'expand your horizons'. The toolkit pack is intended to provide practical help and guidance to policymakers in the use of international comparisons in policymaking.

Why is it important?
The use of international comparisons can provide invaluable evidence on what does and does not work in practice and reveal new mechanisms for implementing policy and improving the delivery of public services. Policymakers can also learn from the way in which other governments undertake the process of policymaking itself.

What does it say?
It highlights that when searching for international comparisons we should not look solely at what national governments do. Administrations at sub-national, state, regional or local government level, and businesses and not for profit organisations working with governments, may be equally valuable sources of ideas and knowledge. Policymakers should identify existing sources of information, expertise and institutional memory, including social science and operational researchers, economists, statisticians, scientists and librarians in their organisation. It also involves cultivating networks of contacts in other administrations and international organisations, and in the academic research community.

When should it be used?
The aim of the toolkit is to make yourself aware of current practice and relevant developments in other countries, so that you are in a position to incorporate comparative information into your analysis and advice as a matter of routine.

How does it work?
The toolkit highlights the following steps:

First, policymakers should scan the horizons for interesting approaches and innovative development.
Next, they should select one or more promising comparators for closer systematic examination.
Then, it is important to make an effort to understand whether, and if so how, your comparator works in practice. This involves not only understanding the model but also the way in which the complex context in which it operates affects its expediency. The CMPS International Comparisons Workbook provides practical help in exploring what factors in the social, economic, cultural and institutional environment are critical to policy success.
Next, it is important to analyse the relevance of the comparator.
Finally, establish the possible lessons which can be leant from the case study.

Useful examples

Introduction of a Code of Social Conduct in the Armed Forces [external website]
This example describes the introduction by the Ministry of Defence of a Code of Social Conduct which underpinned a change of policy on service by homosexual men and women in the Armed Forces. The example of the Australian Defence Force, which had successfully adopted a similar non-discriminatory approach, was closely examined before the Code was formulated.

Future Governance programme [external website]
The Future Governance Programme is a research programme which was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. It consisted of 30 research projects in the social sciences concerned with lesson drawing in public policy and policy transfer. These address key questions about: the circumstances under which cross-national lessons are sought; the conditions under which policies can be transferred; how the process of transfer works; and the political, social, economic and cultural variables that affect how lessons drawn from experiences in one jurisdiction can be applied in another. This provides specific lessons for policy development in fields across the range of government services and generates broader insights into how innovations developed in one country may be adapted to work successfully in other jurisdictions. The programme also supports conferences and commissioned work which will bring together academics and practitioners to examine the potential contribution of cross-national experience to developing public policy initiatives.

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