How Research–Policy Partnerships Can Benefit Government: A Win–Win for Evidence-Based Policy-Making

What is the appeal of evidence-based policy-making to policy-makers themselves? What is the appeal of being influenced to make decisions they would not otherwise make? In this article, I argue that forging partnerships between research organizations and policy agencies can result in seven short-term benefits for the latter, independent of decision influence. These potential benefits are a more intuitive initial basis for partnership, and genuine influences on policy-making may still emerge over the long term. Overall, this article serves as a general argument in favour of evidence-informed policy, and research–policy partnerships in particular, directed at both academic and government audiences.