Reimagining and rebuilding government: The role of social scientists in evidence-backed policymaking

Session Submission Type: Roundtable

Abstract

We rely on the federal government for vital social insurance programs, invaluable data on the state of the U.S. economy, and to guarantee the rights and safety of workers and consumers, among many other critical functions. The current administration has radically transformed public services through mass firings of civil servants, unwinding of regulatory agencies, centralization of decision-making, and other major changes. Yet even prior to these changes, federal agencies were already in need of reforms so they could both more quickly and effectively govern, while committing to transparency and equity. This discussion will focus on efforts to rebuild and reimagine government institutions for the next governing moment to address economic inequality and drive shared prosperity. Panelists will share their experiences supporting evidence backed policymaking, efforts taking shape to rebuild and reimagine U.S. democracy and administrative agencies, and ideas for how social scientists can get involved now and in the future.

The panel will features academics who previously served in government roles, at the U.S. federal level and abroad. Alexander Hertel-Fernandez served in the Biden-Harris Administration in the U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) and the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA). Alondra Nelson served as deputy assistant to President Joe Biden and as acting director and principal deputy director for science and society in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). Elizabeth Linos served as a policy advisor to the Greek Prime Minister, George Papandreou, focusing on social innovation and public sector reform. Jordan Matsudaira served as Deputy Under Secretary at the U.S. Department of Education in the Biden Administration. Previously, he served as the Chief Economist of the Council of Economic Advisers in the Obama Administration. Sharon Block served as the senior official delegated the duties of the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in President Joe Biden’s White House. In the Obama Administration, she was the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy at the U.S. Department of Labor and Senior Counselor to the Secretary of Labor Tom Perez.

The panel will be moderated by Korin Davis, Associate Director of Academic Programs at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth. Equitable Growth has long been building bridges between academics and policymakers, and has been organizing scholars who are driven to shape policy outcomes with their research findings. This includes investing in the infrastructure for scholars to engage in the policymaking process, including trainings for scholars to speak to policymakers and the press, networking and convenings with policy experts and practitioners to inform their research agendas, and creating pathways for social scientists to engage in public service.

Policy Area

• Politics, Media, and the Policy Process

Moderator

• Alexander Hertel-Fernandez, Columbia University

Organizer

• Korin Davis, Washington Center for Equitable Growth

Speakers

• Alondra Nelson, Institute for Advanced Study

• Elizabeth Linos, Harvard University

• Jordan D Matsudaira, American University

• Sharon Block, Harvard University