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INFORMING SOCIETY The State of the USA

INFORMING SOCIETY The State of the USA. Measuring Society’s Progress Bellagio, Italy March 21, 2005. “ 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 21 st Century Society By ….

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INFORMING SOCIETY The State of the USA

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  1. INFORMING SOCIETYThe State of the USA Measuring Society’s Progress Bellagio, Italy March 21, 2005

  2. “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

  3. 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? - Where might things head in the future?

  4. OVERVIEW What We Are Doing • The Need and the Opportunity • A Viable Solution How We Are Doing It • Leadership and Involvement • Strategy and Implementation Why It Will Make a Difference • Impact and Value

  5. 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.

  6. Initial Audiences • Civic leaders, nonprofit organizations and foundations. • Editors, journalists and media organizations. • Government policy makers at all levels of society. • Business leaders and wholesale information providers. • Students, educators and researchers • Interested and engaged citizens and interest groups.

  7. Now is the Time for a U.S. Key Indicator System • Information infrastructures offer true economies of scale. • Major new investments being made in data collection / availability. • The practice of key indicator systems is developing quickly. • The next generation of systems and products is ready to be built. • There is a window of opportunity for international leadership. • Marginal investments in dissemination have high potential payoffs.

  8. A Viable Solution – The State of the USA • Provide a single source of the essential indicators of U.S. position and progress, with both a local relevance and global context. • Develop a civic and scientific process to select and continually improve a State of the USA indicator set. • Provide products and services to improve the understanding and decision-making of targeted audiences. • Help make a lasting contribution to American democracy through an enduring public/private partnership.

  9. ECONOMY 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 SOCIETY 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 • Quality of Life • Growth • Opportunity • Liberty • Diversity • Mobility • Poverty • Sustainability • Justice State of the USA Indicator Set (v.0.9)

  10. Quality of Life • Growth • Opportunity • Liberty • Diversity • Mobility • Poverty • Sustainability • Justice State of the USA Indicator Set (v.0.9) - Samples • THE ECONOMY • Real gross GDP • Corporate profit • Productivity - Output per hour • Civilian unemployment • Real disposable personal income • Inflation (CPI) • US Trade deficit/surplus • US Federal budget deficit/surplus • Federal funds rate • Poverty rate • THE PEOPLE • Population distribution/density • Educational proficiency • Family literacy rates • Disability adjusted life expectancy • Voluntary associations • Self-reported trust and fear • Graduation rates • Research expenditure/GDP • Violent crime rates • Time usage distribution • Food and shelter security • THE ENVIRONMENT • Ecosystem extent • Urban proximity to land uses • Chemical contamination • Movement of nitrogen • Mean temperature/precipitation • Changes in stream flows • Total species diversity • Biological community condition • Food, fiber, water withdrawals • Energy and mineral supply mix

  11. “National” Indicators in Context

  12. Key Balancing Factors for The State of the USA

  13. Serves needs of diverse agendas Covers multiple levels of society Constantly updated Always available, one-stop shop Interactive and engaging Rigorous quality assurance Allows self-customization Continually improves over time Highly transparent to all Multimedia approach State of the USA – Web Portal Features Comprehensive Selective Authoritative Accessible Valuable

  14. 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

  15. OVERVIEW What We Are Doing • The Need and the Opportunity • A Viable Solution How We Are Doing It • Leadership and Involvement • Strategy and Implementation Why It Will Make a Difference • Impact and Value

  16. Leadership and Involvement • High-caliber leadership group with a representative character • Extensive involvement with diverse group of leading institutions in American society • Substantial network of relationships with existing practitioners, stakeholders, and experts – locally, nationally, and globally • Incubated by The National Academies, in coordination with others at federal, state and local levels as well as with diverse demographic communities, professional and interest groups.

  17. Current KNII Organizational StructureDevelopment Phase National Coordinating Committee

  18. Steering Committee* • Donald Borut, Executive Director, National League of Cities • Richard Cavanagh, President, The Conference Board • William Clark, Harvey Brooks Professor of International Science, Public Policy and Human Development, Environment and Natural Resources Program, Harvard University • Michael Delli Carpini, Dean, The Annenberg School, University of Pennsylvania • William J. Dennis, Senior Research Fellow, National Federation of Independent Business - Educational Foundation • Harvey Fineberg, President, Institute of Medicine, The National Academies (Chair) • Robert Groves, Director, Survey Research Center, University of Michigan • Christopher Hoenig, Vice-President of Strategy, IBM Business Consulting Services • Patricia McGinnis, President & CEO, The Council for Excellence in Government • Marvin Langston, Senior Vice-President, SAIC • Ron Blackwell, Chief Economist, AFL-CIO • Kenneth Prewitt, Carnegie Professor of Public Affairs, Columbia University • Jane Ross, Director, Center for Economic, Governance, and International Studies, The National Academies • Corrine Yu, Director of Education, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights/Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund * Current membership. Does not include Government Observers

  19. To Help Shape the Direction of the KNII by Representing and Serving as a Bridge to American Society National Coordinating Committee Role • Provide guidance and feedback • Facilitate outreach and stimulate engagement • Promote awareness and education • Participate in KNII activities

  20. BLS, Census, BEA, HHS GAO National Academies, CNSTAT National Academy of Public Adm. National League of Cities, ICMA CICS, ARS, NNIP, NICS AFL-CIO Leadership Council on Civil Rights Heritage Foundation Harvard, MIT, CMU, USC The Conference Board National Council of State Leg. Council of State Governments NASACT National Science Foundation Brookings Institution OMB, CEQ Center for Public Integrity Union of Concerned Journalists Nat’l Association of Counties National Consumer’s League The Private Sector Council Council for Excellence in Govt. National Governor’s Association NAAAP National Coordinating Committee* *Selected members for illustrative purposes only

  21. Strategy and Implementation • Build an approach based on key success factors from other systems and make adjustments for a U.S. national solution. • Build institutional foundation with leading information “brands” in U.S. society, coordinating with all levels of government. • Focus on achieving best possible balance of relevance, value, credibility and legitimacy. • Create viable economic model through combination of endowment, membership and value-added services.

  22. 2003-2004 2005-2006 2007-2008 2009-2010 Our Journey to “The State of the USA” Plan Develop Produce Grow Today

  23. Progress to Date (Jan. 2003 – Mar. 2006) • Attracted diverse, talented leadership team • Assembled a broad-based coalition • Engaged with Governments at all levels • Serious Congressional interest • Developed organizational structure and strategic plan • Gained substantial financial and in-kind support • Conducted workshops on critical path issues • Established strategic partnerships • Produced State of the USA indicator set (version 0.9) • Produced demonstrations of State of the USA web portal

  24. Roadmap for KNII Implementation

  25. Lessons Learned and Continuing Challenges • Setting strategic priorities and expectations • Developing a viable indicator set design process • Getting the right people with the right commitment • Maintaining appropriate scope • Continually enhancing diversity and balance • Importance of user-based product design • The significance of evolving technologies • The key role of National Academies as incubator • Defining and differentiating the KNII • Alternatives for long-term sustainability

  26. Fundamental Creative Tensions • Short vs. long-term issues • What’s vs. Why’s • Research vs. indicators • New vs. existing indicators • Creative possibilities vs. pragmatic applications • Input to decisions vs. making decisions • Simplicity vs. robustness • Stating questions vs. using available data • What we can do now vs. what we can do later

  27. OVERVIEW What We Are Doing • The Need and the Opportunity • A Viable Solution How We Are Doing It • Leadership and Involvement • Strategy and Implementation Why It Will Make a Difference • Impact and Value

  28. Impact and Value • Broader audience understanding of changing conditions • Improved base of shared factual knowledge • Enriched civic dialogue • More informed choices • Enhanced collaboration and problem solving

  29. Impact and Value – Illustrations • Non-Profits and Governments – Better strategies & resource allocation choices on investments in complex issues (e.g. short and long-range fiscal challenges, health care, education) • Media – New information and tools that improve productivity and depth of reporting on cross-cutting issues (e.g. energy and resource sustainability, regional issues) • Business – Better insight into broad societal patterns and trends for planning, investment and product/service creation(e.g. socio-economic trends by geographic and demographic groups) • 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)

  30. Contact Information for Follow-Up • Harvey Fineberg, President, Institute of Medicine;The National Academies; Chairman, KNII Steering Committee; 202.334.3300 or fineberg@nas.edu • Christopher Hoenig, Vice-President of Strategy,IBM Business Consulting Services; Executive Director, KNII 202.265.1468 or christopherhoenig@earthlink.net • Jane Ross, Project Director, The National Academies; 202.334.2092 or jross@nas.edu

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