Speaking Power to Truth? Evidence-Based Policy and the Politics of Housing in the UK

1. 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

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

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

4. 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

5. The Research Context • The Utilitarian Turn • Instrumentalism • Academic rent-seeking? • Contract research and commodification

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

7. 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

8. 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)

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

10. 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

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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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