Data Informed Solutions for Local Public Policy

Introducing a new insights series highlighting emerging datasets, tools and technologies available to drive more effective local government policymaking.

The public sector is a notorious laggard in using/embedding advanced data solutions into core processes. This is particularly true when it relates to smaller and and under-resourced local jurisdictions. Low and no cost datasets and technology environments exist to support policy planning and development teams at the local level.

This kicks off a series of insightful pieces that will demonstrate how jurisdictions can access rich, large-scale datasets, deploy advanced data methodologies and leverage technology-enabled analysis tools to design and execute high-performance public policies and high-resolution intervention measurement.

This new world, largely powered by the open data economy, low cost machine learning and generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools, allows local policymakers to use data as an accelerant to best-in-class policy development processes.

At Scatterday & Associates, we believe cities should see the world as a laboratory and look at evidence based practices that are effectively driving outcomes in issue areas of interest.

This mental model, coupled with rich datasets, advanced analytical approaches and enabling technology will enable local governments to potentially revolutionize the effectiveness of their policy making processes.

Over the next three months, we will provide an end to end examples of how the referenced approaches can be applied to three issue areas many local jurisdictions face:

1. Affordable Housing: creating incremental stock of housing that is accessible and affordable for housing at-risk individuals and families

2. Quality Education: building public education programs that drive higher outcomes for students

3. Equitable Micromobility: offering modes of transportation that that enable efficient and low externality end-point travel across all five boroughs

Each piece will include a summary of best-in-cass and emerging data collection approaches, fit-for-purpose statistical methodologies, and free or low-costs technology enablement solutions.

Please check back to our Expert Insights page beginning Oct 1, 2023 for the first piece on affordable housing.

To see why Scatterday & Associates is trusted partner to government, private sector and philanthropic sector clients, schedule a demonstration of our advanced market intelligence tools here.