How Congress underwrites the models that trap American policymaking

Making policy invariably means trying to predict the future, which is why legislators rely on models to help forecast the impacts of their decisions. But when the budget model that dominates policymaking is wrong, it limits policymakers' ability to take action on the crises that affect the American people.

Today in the Prospect, Philip Rocco investigates the immense power the Congressional Budget Office’s economic projections have in Washington, and how Congressional reliance on the CBO prevents legislators from addressing urgent policy needs. As Rocco writes, to build better models, we may have to build better politics.

You can read the full article here >>