Bad data results in harmful policies. Discover how flawed data drives poor decisions—and how we can fix it for smarter, fairer outcomes.
Matilda
How Bad Data Leads to Bad Policy Decisions Why Bad Data Leads to Bad Policy Decisions In a world increasingly shaped by data-driven decisions, the phrase "bad data leads to bad policy" has never been more relevant. Governments, organizations, and institutions rely heavily on data to guide regulations, allocate resources, and create impactful strategies. But what happens when the data is inaccurate, incomplete, biased, or misinterpreted? Policies built on flawed data don’t just fail—they often cause harm, misallocate funding, and erode public trust. In this post, we’ll break down how bad data affects policymaking, explore real-world examples, and share actionable insights on how to prevent it. Image : Google The root problem: where bad data comes from Bad data doesn’t always come from malicious intent. It often stems from human error, outdated collection methods, inconsistent reporting standards, or systemic bias. In public health, for instance, incorrect reporting of infection rates or demographic data can lead to underf…
