Word Of The Week: Experts

Definition: A person who has special skill or knowledge in some particular field. An authority.

Derivation:

The UK government ordered a national lockdown after following the science from experts in pandemic modelling. They have discovered that the authority of science can be used both to justify a policy and excuse it afterwards when it fails.

For many years politicians have launched waves of initiatives which are ‘evidence-based’ or ‘follow the science.’ The rules for engagement with experts are simple:

1. Pick your favourite expert

Politicians recognise that ‘evidence-led’ policy is difficult when there is such a range of evidence, that leads us in different directions. When dealing with contradictory evidence, it is important to ensure that any policy is evidence-led, by carefully selecting experts who will produce the required evidence in support of a proposed policy. The careful selection of experts enables policy-led evidence to be produced in support of evidence-led policies

2. Produce a number, any number

In modern times, experts use computer programmes to produce numbers that inform policy. Computer models can generate a series of forecasts and predictions on demand, by applying the appropriate assumptions. Some programs randomly produce numbers until an appropriately large number is generated. The big, scary number provides the evidence required to justify a radical policy.