INFORMING SOCIETY IN THE 21st CENTURY

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INFORMING SOCIETY IN THE 21st CENTURY
X Reunion De Ministros De La Presidencia Y
Equivalentes De Iberoamerica (RIMPE) Cartagena De
Indias, Colombia October 12, 2006
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• 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

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Strengthen 21st Century Society By
Disseminating the USAs Vital Signs to Help
The American People Answer Essential
Questions - What key facts measure national
progress? - Whats going well and what isnt? -
Who is being affected and how? - Compared to
what?
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OVERVIEW

• The Problem
• The Need and the Audiences
• Timing and Urgency
• The Solution
• The State of the USA
• Leadership and Strategy
• The Results
• Impact and Value

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The Need and the Opportunity

• Factual information on conditions in the USA is
  so fragmented, inconsistent or overwhelming that
  its 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.

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Audiences for The State of the USA

• Non-governmental organizations and interest
  groups
• Editors, journalists and media organizations
• Business leaders and wholesale information
  providers
• Government policy makers at all levels of
  society
• Students and educators
• Interested and engaged civic leaders and
  citizens

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Now is the Time for a U.S. Key Indicator System

• Major new investments are being made in data and
  technology.
• The practice of key indicator systems is
  developing quickly.
• Demand for new sources of information continues
  to grow.
• Information infrastructures offer economies of
  scale at national level
• Marginal investments in dissemination have high
  potential payoffs.
• A substantial opportunity and obligation exists
  for civic leadership.

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OVERVIEW

• The Problem
• The Need and the Audiences
• Timing and Urgency
• The Solution
• The State of the USA
• Leadership and Strategy
• The Results
• Impact and Value

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A Viable Solution The State of the USA

• Content Develop a civic and scientific process
  to select and continually improve a State of the
  USA indicator set that would best measure the
  progress of the nation.
• Product Provide products and services to
  improve the understanding and decision-making of
  targeted audiences.
• Institution Help make a lasting contribution to
  American democracy through an independent,
  enduring public/private partnership.

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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

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Our Journey to The State of the USA
Plan
Develop
Produce
Grow
2003-2004
2005-2006/7
2007-2008/9
2009-2010/11
Today
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State of the USA - Indicator Topics (v.0.9)
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State of the USA - Candidate Key Indicators

• THE ECONOMY
• Real gross GDP
• Corporate profits
• Productivity - Output per hour
• Civilian unemployment
• Real disposable personal income
• Poverty rate
• Inflation
• Federal funds (interest) rate
• US Trade deficit/surplus
• US Federal budget deficit/surplus

• THE PEOPLE
• Population size and composition
• Health status
• Life expectancy at birth
• Elementary math/reading proficiency
• Educational attainment
• Research and development
• Living arrangements of children
• Population in religious groups
• Crime victimization
• Tolerance
• Perception of neighborhood safety
• Leisure

• THE ENVIRONMENT
• Change in ecosystem area
• Proximity to hazardous facilities
• Chemical contamination on water and soil
• Water quality Nitrogen
• Air quality
• Mean temperature/precipitation
• Changes in stream flows
• At-risk native species
• Biological community condition
• Fuel production/Fuel consumption
• Food, fiber, water withdrawals

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State of the USA Web Portal Features

• Selective yet robust
• Serves needs of diverse audiences
• Covers multiple levels of society
• Focused but holistic
• Always available, one-stop shop
• Interactive, engaging and educational
• Rigorous quality assurance
• Allows self-customization
• Continually improves over time
• Highly transparent
• Responsive to feedback
• Multimedia approach

Selective Authoritative Comparative Versatile Valu
able
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OVERVIEW

• The Problem
• The Need and the Audiences
• Timing and Urgency
• The Solution
• The State of the USA
• Leadership and Strategy
• The Results
• Impact and Value

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Impact and Value

• Broader audience understanding of changing
  conditions(e.g., Boston, Chicago)
• Improved base of shared factual knowledge(e.g.,
  Orange County Florida)
• Enriched civic dialogue (e.g., Australia Social
  capital/immigration)
• More informed choices (e.g., United Kingdom
  Deprivation)
• Enhanced collaboration and problem solving (e.g.,
  Silicon Valley)

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Impact and Value Illustrations by Audience

• Non-Profits and Governments Better strategies
  resource allocation choices on investments in
  complex issues (e.g. issue and program
  management)
• Media New information and tools that improve
  productivity, depth of coverage (e.g.,
  immigration, safety and security)and accuracy
• Business Better insight into broad societal
  patterns and trends for planning, investment and
  product/service creation(e.g. socio-economic
  trends)
• Education Improved quality of curricula,
  increased statistical literacy, better
  understanding of public issues, and increased
  levels of meaningful civic engagement (e.g.,
  learning networks)
• 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)

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Contact Information for Follow-Up

• Harvey Fineberg, President, Institute of
  MedicineThe National Academies Chairman, KNII
  Steering Committee 202.334.3300 or
  fineberg_at_nas.edu
• Christopher Hoenig, Vice-President of
  Strategy,IBM Global Business Services Executive
  Group Chair, KNII 202.265.1468 or
  christopherhoenig_at_earthlink.net
• Jane Ross, Project Director, The National
  Academies 202.334.2092 or jross_at_nas.edu