De la acción pública a las políticas públicas basadas en evidencia: el caso de la Ley de Equidad Salarial en Quebec
From Public Action to Evidence-Based Public Policies: The Case of Quebec’s Pay Equity Act
Da ação pública às políticas públicas baseadas em evidências: o caso da Lei de Equidade Salarial em Quebec
Resumen (es)
En el ámbito de la formulación de políticas públicas y del diseño institucional, el uso de evidencia científica se ha consolidado como un principio fundamental para orientar decisiones informadas y efectivas. Sin embargo, a pesar de su aceptación generalizada, la integración de la evidencia en la acción pública, entendida como el proceso más amplio de construcción y legitimación de problemas colectivos que involucra tanto a actores estatales como sociales, enfrenta desafíos complejos que van más allá de la mera disponibilidad de datos confiables. Este texto explora las razones que fundamentan la insistencia en una práctica basada en evidencia, considerando las tensiones entre objetivos políticos y criterios técnicos, la erosión de consensos sociales sobre la realidad factual y las implicancias metodológicas en la producción y aplicación del conocimiento. A través de este análisis y de un ejemplo emblemático de política pública, la Ley de Equidad Salarial de Quebec, que se inscribió en una acción pública más amplia y permitió avances concretos en la reducción de la discriminación de género en el mercado laboral, se busca ofrecer una reflexión crítica sobre cómo garantizar que la evidencia contribuya de manera efectiva al cambio institucional en contextos sociopolíticos dinámicos y a menudo contradictorios.
Resumen (en)
In the field of public policy formulation and institutional design, the use of scientific evidence has become a fundamental principle to guide informed and effective decision-making. However, despite its widespread acceptance, the integration of evidence into public action—understood as the broader process through which social and state actors construct and legitimize collective problems—faces complex challenges that go beyond the mere availability of reliable data. This article explores the reasons that justify insisting on evidence-based practice, considering the tensions between political objectives and technical criteria, the erosion of social consensus on factual reality, and the methodological implications in the production and application of knowledge. Through this analysis and an emblematic example of public policy, Quebec’s Pay Equity Act, which was embedded in a broader public action and achieved concrete progress in reducing gender discrimination in the labor market, the article offers a critical reflection on how to ensure that evidence contributes legitimately and effectively to institutional change in dynamic and often contradictory socio-political contexts.
Resumen (pt_BR)
No âmbito da formulação de políticas públicas e do desenho institucional, o uso de evidências científicas consolidou-se como um princípio fundamental para orientar decisões informadas e eficazes. No entanto, apesar de sua ampla aceitação, a integração das evidências na ação pública — entendida como o processo mais amplo de construção e legitimação de problemas coletivos que envolve tanto atores estatais quanto sociais — enfrenta desafios complexos que vão além da mera disponibilidade de dados confiáveis. Este texto explora as razões que justificam a insistência em uma prática baseada em evidências, considerando as tensões entre objetivos políticos e critérios técnicos, a erosão do consenso social sobre a realidade factual e as implicações metodológicas na produção e aplicação do conhecimento. Por meio desta análise e de um exemplo emblemático de política pública, a Lei de Equidade Salarial de Quebec, que se inscreveu em uma ação pública mais ampla e possibilitou avanços concretos na redução da discriminação de gênero no mercado de trabalho, busca-se oferecer uma reflexão crítica sobre como garantir que as evidências contribuam de maneira legítima e eficaz para a mudança institucional em contextos sociopolíticos dinâmicos e frequentemente contraditórios.
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