Think tanks in UK

It appears that the UK is having some complaints about the absence of policy development also. Much of the following article's grievances have been expressed in this blog previously. But, I suppose it is interesting as it is instructive to learn about how other countries are dealing with their policy development and strategic thinking:

If proof were needed of the weakness of the UK Labour party, one would need to look no further than the financial muscle of the UK’s centre-right think-tanks, growing in expectation of a Tory government. More striking than comparisons of left and right, however, is how weak UK think-tanks are in comparison with their foreign counterparts, notably in the US. Think-tanks there are not the right model for the UK’s policy wonks to emulate, but they can do better.

UK politically active think-tanks tend to be staffed by 20-something aspirant MPs and run on shoestring budgets. But in the US, the top think-tanks are well-funded and well-staffed universities without students. There are good reasons for this. Significant staff turnover accompanies every change in US administration. Big think-tanks, such as the Brookings Institution, are filled with experienced policymakers between government jobs. US culture is also more conducive both to lobbying and to philanthropy than the UK. These factors mean it is unimaginable UK think-tanks would ever be able to match their Washington counterparts.

Lacking resources, the big UK think-tanks dedicate themselves to campaigning rather than to analysis. In this respect, they do well. Without them, there would be no one to gainsay politicians, the civil service and journalists. The Institute of Economic Affairs made a significant contribution to Thatcherism through its activism.

But this focus on campaigning means the policy support available to UK politicians from outside government is rather weak. Most UK think-tank research pieces are literature reviews. In many policy areas, the Institute for Fiscal Studies is the only independent body that routinely provides the analysis politicians need. Other UK think-tanks are either not capable of it or have no wish to get involved in the challenge of making broad political ideas into useful laws.

Read more here.