Evidence-based policies required in times of crisis

Abstract

The evidence for policy making has improved dramatically over the last 20 years, but it is necessary to consider what is still lacking. When assessing Japan's science and technology policy over the past 20 years, the problems include declines in the global share of scientific papers, in the quality of research, and in industrial competitiveness especially in advanced technology fields. Underlying these problems is "stabilization". The ranking of domestic universities has been fixed, challenges to new research areas have declined, and domestic orientation has increased. The challenge for policy research is how to form evidence for policies that respond to the problems that Japan is facing or should arise in the future.