Speaking Power to Truth? Evidence- Based Policy and the Politics of Housing in the UK Keith Jacobs University of Tasmania Tony Manzi University of Westminster

What is Evidence-Based Policy (EBP)? Comprehensive Analysis Systematic Review Framework for Evaluation Justification for Reform

What Claims are Made for EBP? ‘Robust’ framework Effective use of Research Rationale for Intervention Objective and scientific basis for change

Why is EBP so Popular? ‘Concrete factual realism’ and ‘unvarnished verisimilitude’ (Hood and Jackson) Post-ideology Epistemic legitimisation ‘Retreat from priesthood’ New ICTs Complexity of policy environment Coalition government and post-bureaucracy

The Research Context The Utilitarian Turn Instrumentalism – Academic rent-seeking? Contract research and commodification

Housing and Professional Practice Pragmatism – ‘In Business for Neighbourhoods’ Best Practice – Customer care and marketing ‘What matters is what works’ – Additionality

Additionality (Source: BIS, 2009) Gross outputs/outcomes Deadweight: benefits that would have been secured without intervention Displacement: reduced outputs elsewhere within target area Leakage: benefits occurring outside target area Substitution: e.g. replacing existing worker with jobless person Multipliers: provision of further economic activity (e.g. jobs, expenditure, income) Crowding in/out: expenditure causes other economic adjustments Unintended consequences: unanticipated and adverse (non-targeted) effects Net additional outputs/outcomes

Calculating Additionality (Source: English Partnerships, 2009) A1 [G1 x (1-L) x (1-Dp) x (1-S) x M] – [G1* x (1-L*) x (1-Dp*) x (1-S*) x M*] Where: AI = Net additional impact GI = Gross impact L = Leakage Dp = Displacement S= Substitution M = Multiplier * Denotes reference case (and hence deadweight)

Conceptual Framework Managerialism – Competition, Incentivisation, Disaggregation Modernisation – Participation and partnership Ideological Change – ‘Regime of truth’ (Foucault) – Privatisation and neoliberalism

Managerialism Best Value – Use of ‘piloting’ – ‘Exemplifying rather than experimenting’ – use of ‘trail blazer’ authorities HMRP ‘Pathfinder’ programme – Primacy of markets – Demolition – Role of academics and consultants

Modernisation – the NDC Programme Community-based strategy Holistic approach Evidence to win bids – e.g. deprivation etc Extensive evaluation – ex post, ex ante

Ideology - Evidence for Welfare Reform Stigmatisation of social housing and shaping behaviour Consultation document - Housing system ‘not working’ (CLG, 2010) due to: – Worklessness – Lack of mobility – Inflexibility – Poorly targeted subsidy – Inefficiency

Proposals for Welfare Reform (2012) ‘The answer to the problem is fundamentally a local one’ (CLG, p.15) Deregulation Subsidy restrictions – ‘affordable’ rents and self-financing Local authority autonomy: – Homelessness – Waiting list – Security of tenure

Conclusions The limitations of evidence The interdependence of power and knowledge Rhetoric and reaction in housing policy Discourse as justification Primarily political/ideological strategy – Claims of impartiality/rationality Combination of managerialism, modernisation and ideology