Modelling for Policy Without Policy Modelling

Abstract

This paper reflects on the efforts of the ABM community to model for policy from our perspective as policy developer. Our goal is to enrich the understanding the community of this perspective on the policy processes and draw attention to more opportunities for modelling in the policy process. We make this explicit by introducing the problem cycle as part of the policy process. The problem cycle can be understood as an iterative process that precedes the policy cycle and has its own goals and results. By modelling in the problem cycle modellers can add valuable contributions to the policy process without modelling a policy. We provide three initial tools to modellers to advance their thinking on how to do this. One: a mapping showing the usefulness of the various model(ling) goals for each policy phase. Two: a classification of different types of governments and what they value. Three: an introduction to actionable perspectives as an effective way to present results to policy. We conclude by stressing that it is always important to have conversations with policy people on equal footing to identify how to usefully model for policy without modelling a policy.