In his new book Public Policy in an Uncertain World, Professor Charles Manski argues that society should face up to the uncertainties that attend policy formation. He observes that the current practice of policy analysis hides uncertainty, as researchers use untenable assumptions to make exact predictions of policy outcomes. Manski recommends performance of more credible policy analysis that explicitly express the limits to knowledge, and he considers how policy makers can reasonably make decisions in an uncertain world.

This policy lecture has been organised by cemmap and the British Academy Policy Centre and will be chaired by Professor Andrew Chesher, Professor of Economics at UCL and Director of cemmap.

The lecture will be followed by a response from Lord Gus O’Donnell, former UK Cabinet Secretary and Visiting Professor at the Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy, UCL.

Registration will take place between 17:30 and 18:00. A drinks reception will then take place between 19:30 and 20:00.