Transcript The Problem

INFORMING SOCIETY
IN THE 21st CENTURY
X Reunion De Ministros De La Presidencia Y
Equivalentes De Iberoamerica (RIMPE)
Cartagena De Indias, Colombia
October 12, 2006
“If we could first know where we are and
whither we are tending, we could better
judge what to do, and how to do it …”
-- Abraham Lincoln
Strengthen 21st Century Society By …
Disseminating the USA’s “Vital Signs”
to Help The American People
Answer Essential Questions
- What key facts measure national progress?
- What’s going well and what isn’t?
- Who is being affected and how?
- Compared to what?
OVERVIEW
The Problem
 The Need and the Audiences
 Timing and Urgency
The Solution
 The State of the USA
 Leadership and Strategy
The Results
 Impact and Value
The Need and the Opportunity
 Factual information on conditions in the USA is so fragmented,
inconsistent or overwhelming that it’s hard to know where we are,
how we are doing and where we might be going.
 Large investments have produced much valuable data on the US,
but they are not easy for most people to find and use.
 There is a pressing need for more independent, reliable,
transparent and high-quality information sources.
 Important national and individual choices are too often framed,
discussed and made based on inadequate, incomplete or biased
information without a widely shared base of factual knowledge.
Audiences for The State of the USA
 Non-governmental organizations and interest groups
 Editors, journalists and media organizations
 Business leaders and wholesale information providers
 Government policy makers at all levels of society
 Students and educators
 Interested and engaged civic leaders and citizens
Now is the Time for a U.S. Key Indicator System
 Major new investments are being made in data and technology.
 The practice of key indicator systems is developing quickly.
 Demand for new sources of information continues to grow.
 Information infrastructures offer economies of scale at national level
 Marginal investments in dissemination have high potential payoffs.
 A substantial opportunity and obligation exists for civic leadership.
OVERVIEW
The Problem
 The Need and the Audiences
 Timing and Urgency
The Solution
 The State of the USA
 Leadership and Strategy
The Results
 Impact and Value
A Viable Solution – The State of the USA
 Content: Develop a civic and scientific process to select and
continually improve a State of the USA indicator set that would
best measure the progress of the nation.
 Product: Provide products and services to improve the
understanding and decision-making of targeted audiences.
 Institution: Help make a lasting contribution to American
democracy through an independent, enduring public/private
partnership.
Guiding Principles
 Open, inclusive and transparent process
 Content shaped by extensive dialogue and diverse perspectives
 Grounded in a broad-based public/private partnership
 Independent reporting of quality, reliable data
 Non-partisan, non-ideological, fair and balanced
 Assembly not collection, dissemination not interpretation
 Accessible, valuable and user-friendly products
Our Journey to “The State of the USA”
Plan
Develop
Produce
Grow
2003-2004
2005-2006/7
2007-2008/9
2009-2010/11
Today
State of the USA - Indicator Topics (v.0.9)
•Quality of Life
•Growth
•Opportunity
•Liberty
•Diversity
•Mobility
•Poverty
•Sustainability
•Justice
ECONOMY
SOCIETY
Production, Productivity, National Wealth
Individuals, Families, and Households
Employment and Labor Markets
Business
Financial Markets
Prices and Inflation
Government and Non-Profits
The World Economy
Children
Older Americans
Communities and Civic Engagement
Democracy and Governance
Education
Health Care
Research and Innovation
Safety
National Security
ENVIRONMENT
Landscape
Soil, Water and Air
Animals, Plants and Ecosystemse
Goods and Services
State of the USA - Candidate Key Indicators
THE ECONOMY
THE PEOPLE
•Real gross GDP
•Corporate profits
•Productivity - Output per hour
•Civilian unemployment
•Real disposable personal income
•Poverty rate
•Inflation
•Federal funds (interest) rate
•US Trade deficit/surplus
•US Federal budget deficit/surplus
•Population size and composition
•Health status
•Life expectancy at birth
•Elementary math/reading proficiency
•Educational attainment
•Research and development
•Living arrangements of children
•Population in religious groups
•Crime victimization
•Tolerance
•Perception of neighborhood safety
•Leisure
THE ENVIRONMENT
•Change in ecosystem area
•Proximity to hazardous facilities
•Chemical contamination on water and soil
•Water quality – Nitrogen
•Air quality
•Mean temperature/precipitation
•Changes in stream flows
•At-risk native species
•Biological community condition
•Fuel production/Fuel consumption
•Food, fiber, water withdrawals
State of the USA – Web Portal Features
Selective
Authoritative
Comparative
Versatile
Valuable
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Selective yet robust
Serves needs of diverse audiences
Covers multiple levels of society
Focused but holistic
Always available, one-stop shop
Interactive, engaging and educational
Rigorous quality assurance
Allows self-customization
Continually improves over time
Highly transparent
Responsive to feedback
Multimedia approach
OVERVIEW
The Problem
 The Need and the Audiences
 Timing and Urgency
The Solution
 The State of the USA
 Leadership and Strategy
The Results
 Impact and Value
Impact and Value
 Broader audience understanding of changing conditions
(e.g., Boston, Chicago)
 Improved base of shared factual knowledge
(e.g., Orange County – Florida)
 Enriched civic dialogue (e.g., Australia – Social capital/immigration)
 More informed choices (e.g., United Kingdom – Deprivation)
 Enhanced collaboration and problem solving (e.g., Silicon Valley)
Impact and Value – Illustrations by Audience
 Non-Profits and Governments – Better strategies & resource
allocation choices on investments in complex issues (e.g. issue
and program management)
 Media – New information and tools that improve productivity, depth
of coverage (e.g., immigration, safety and security)
and accuracy
 Business – Better insight into broad societal patterns and trends
for planning, investment and product/service creation
(e.g. socio-economic trends)
 Education – Improved quality of curricula, increased statistical
literacy, better understanding of public issues, and increased levels
of meaningful civic engagement (e.g., learning networks)
 Citizens and Interest Groups – Increased confidence and better
understanding of issues and how they are affecting their interests
(e.g. health care and the economy, international economics & jobs)
Contact Information for Follow-Up
 Harvey Fineberg, President, Institute of Medicine;
The National Academies; Chairman, KNII Steering Committee;
202.334.3300 or [email protected]
 Christopher Hoenig, Vice-President of Strategy,
IBM Global Business Services; Executive Group Chair, KNII
202.265.1468 or [email protected]
 Jane Ross, Project Director, The National Academies;
202.334.2092 or [email protected]