# Crowdsourcing: a new tool for policy-making?

**Authors:** Araz Taeihagh  
**arXiv:** [1802.03113](https://arxiv.org/abs/1802.03113)  
**Date:** 2018-02-09  
**Summary page:** https://www.summarizepaper.com/en/arxiv-id/1802.03113v1/

## Key points

- Crowdsourcing is a tool used in policy-making initiatives
- It involves using the ideas, labor, opinion or expertise of large groups of people to solve problems and generate new ideas
- Its use in policy-making has primarily focused on open collaboration platforms and specific stages of the policy process such as agenda-setting and policy evaluations
- Other forms of crowdsourcing have been largely neglected in policy-making, with only a few exceptions
- The article examines crowdsourcing as a tool for policy-making and explores its implications for different stages of the policy process
- The study highlights benefits to using crowdsourcing in public policy such as increased engagement with citizens and access to diverse perspectives on complex issues
- Challenges must be addressed such as engaging diverse groups of citizens to avoid biases in decision making and developing effective mechanisms for evaluating the quality and relevance of information generated through crowdsourcing.
- Policymakers need to carefully consider how they use this tool to ensure that it is used appropriately at each stage of the policy cycle.

## Summary

In recent years, crowdsourcing has emerged as a rapidly evolving tool that is being applied in various policy-making initiatives. Crowdsourcing involves using the ideas, labor, opinion or expertise of large groups of people to solve problems and generate new ideas. However, its use in policy-making has primarily focused on open collaboration platforms and specific stages of the policy process such as agenda-setting and policy evaluations. Other forms of crowdsourcing have been largely neglected in policy-making, with only a few exceptions. This article by Araz Taeihagh examines crowdsourcing as a tool for policy-making and explores the nuances of the technology and its implications for different stages of the policy process. The article raises questions surrounding the role of crowdsourcing and whether it can be considered as a policy tool or simply a technological enabler. It also investigates current trends and future directions of crowdsourcing to gain an understanding of how it can be used effectively in public policy making. The study highlights that while there are many benefits to using crowdsourcing in public policy such as increased engagement with citizens and access to diverse perspectives on complex issues, there are also challenges that must be addressed. For instance, policymakers must ensure that they engage diverse groups of citizens to avoid biases in decision making. Additionally, they must develop effective mechanisms for evaluating the quality and relevance of information generated through crowdsourcing. Overall, this article provides valuable insights into how crowdsourcing can be used effectively in public policy making. It emphasizes that policymakers need to carefully consider how they use this tool to ensure that it is used appropriately at each stage of the policy cycle. By doing so, they can harness its potential to generate innovative solutions to complex social problems while avoiding potential pitfalls associated with its use.