The reality of evidence-based policy and government

Toward more "evidence-informed" policy making? observes that whilst champions of "evidence-informed" policy making claim that rigorous evaluation practices can significantly improve attainment of cost-effective outcomes and although performance information is more sophisticated, evaluation practices and capabilities in government agencies vary enormously.  There is little analysis of how this information is actually utilised for policy and program improvement due in part to a lack of funding for evaluations and/or various political and ideological factors.