Turning the Law into a Tool Rather than a Barrier to the Use of Administrative Data for Evidence-Based Policy

Abstract

“The law” is too often viewed as an impenetrable barrier to the use of administrative data to create and evaluate evidence-based policy. There are various reasons for this, including complexities of the law, organizational and cultural norms in government agencies that restrict data sharing, a lack of adequate legal expertise among potential data providers, and a lack of political support for the use of administrative data. However, an emerging political consensus on the importance of the use of administrative data, growing interest among funders, and efforts to create resources for lawyers working in this field provide a foundation for a fundamental shift in attitude about “the law,” making the law an essential tool to data sharing and use, rather than a barrier to these efforts.