This speech focuses on the importance of evidence-informed policymaking, which enhances the effectiveness, efficiency, and equity of public interventions. The author argues that in a complex policy environment, a focus on evidence can provide a constructive path forward in policy disagreements and help build trust in government decisions. 

Key points

• Democratic capitalism and core Western values are at risk due to declining trust in governments globally.
• Trust in democratic capitalist systems relies on evidence-based decisions. 
• Evidence-informed policymaking aims to improve outcomes by grounding decisions in robust evidence, leading to better policy design and resource allocation. 
• High-quality evidence comes from various sources, requiring policymakers to be adept at discerning credible sources and understanding implications. 

The author identifies five ingredients for evidence to inform government policy decisions.

1. Ensuring evidence is of high-quality, particularly for impact evaluation. 
2. Building a culture that values evidence, fostered by curious individuals, organisations open to experimentation, and support systems for evaluation and analysis. 
3. Ensuring institutions value evidence, promoting transparency and openness in decision making.
4. Providing access to data and investing in IT infrastructure. 
5. Building capability and networks within the public service to drive evidence generation, including engagement with external experts and academics.