Crystal Ball? Predicting Policy Outcomes

According to a recent GOVERNING.com article, in January 2014, Massachusetts will become the first state in the country to launch an online public policy simulator called Outline.com.  The application, still in its final development stages, “uses millions of tax and Census records and state-of-the-art economic methodology to calculate public policy scenarios down to single-family units,” according to the Outline.com website.  The application will be available to state officials and members of the public alike.  Users will be able to manipulate different factors such as local or state tax rates or healthcare or education spending, and see how each change affects the community. Hypothetical policy proposals will be public and users will have the ability to “endorse” those that they like.  Ideally, the simulator will encourage civic engagement and help officials shape policy according to public interest.