Ways to improve the quality of the evidence that guides policy

Making it easier for serious researchers to use administrative data would greatly improve the quality of the evidence available to guide policy at very little cost.

Gordon Berlin of MDRC testifies about a specific example, the National Directory of New Hires, which is used as part of the child support enforcement system.

And note, of course, that by suggesting that the data be more easily used for research I am not defending all aspects of the child support system.