INFORMING SOCIETY

The State of the USA

Measuring Society’s ProgressBellagio, 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 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?

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

State of the USA Indicator Set (v.0.9)

ECONOMYProduction, Productivity, National WealthIndividuals, Families, and HouseholdsEmployment and Labor MarketsBusinessFinancial MarketsPrices and InflationGovernment and Non-ProfitsThe World Economy

SOCIETYChildrenOlder AmericansCommunities and Civic EngagementDemocracy and GovernanceEducationHealth CareResearch and InnovationSafetyNational Security

ENVIRONMENTLandscapeSoil, Water and AirAnimals, Plants and EcosystemseGoods and Services

•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

•Quality of Life•Growth•Opportunity•Liberty•Diversity•Mobility•Poverty•Sustainability•Justice

“National” Indicators in Context

National

State, Regional,and Local

International

Key Balancing Factors for The State of the USA

Political Legitimacy

ScientificCredibility

AudienceRelevance

State of the USA – Web Portal Features

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

Comprehensive

Selective

Authoritative

Accessible

Valuable

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

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

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.

Current KNII Organizational StructureDevelopment Phase

Steering Committee

Executive Committee

Content Development

Product/Service Development

Institutional Development

Board of GovernorsNational Coordinating

Committee

Steering Committee*

* Current membership. Does not include Government Observers

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

National Coordinating Committee Role

To Help Shape the Direction of the KNII by Representing and Serving as a Bridge to American Society

Provide guidance and feedback Facilitate outreach and stimulate engagement Promote awareness and education Participate in KNII activities

National Coordinating Committee*

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

*Selected members for illustrative purposes only

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.

Our Journey to “The State of the USA”

2003-2004 2005-2006 2007-2008 2009-2010

Plan Develop Produce Grow

Today

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

Roadmap for KNII Implementation

Development(‘05-6) Production (‘07-8) Growth (‘09-10)

Goal Demonstrate viability of idea, establish position, and lay foundations for medium-term

Rollout high value and quality State of the USA products and services, LT foundations

Grow resource and user base for full sustainability and lasting value / impact

Actions Versions 1-2 of indicator set

Versions 1-2 of products

Create institutional foundation

Build leadership team

Develop outreach program

Create production capacity

Rollout products/services

Succeed with initial audiences

Demonstrate adaptability

Expand user base

Improve product value

Refine capabilities

Create long-term capital structure

Results Create robust world class indicator set, process, team, products, network, services and organization as a foundation for large scale production.

Create first State of the USA products and services that resonate with and engage audiences – provoking new and serious dialogues on major national / global issues.

Create long-term sustainable institution to consistently present quality information that enhances civic choices and problem solving.

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

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

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

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

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)

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