Modelling and appraisal are distorting policy choices

In the last issue we covered a new report by Yaron Hollander, a former Transport for London modelling manager, looking at ten misuses of transport models. This is one of a selection of responses from within the modelling community

John Elliot, vice chair of the national transport committee, TAG

27 November 2015

John Elliot is communications officer and vice chair of the national transport committee of the Local Government Technical Advisers Group (TAG).

It is refreshing to see Yaron’s critique of modelling. The Local Government Technical Advisers Group (TAG) has been very critical of modelling and particularly the assessment of benefits output from such models.

We have written to the Government and the House of Commons Committees laying out our criticisms and offering to be part of any group trying to come up with better solutions. The last occasion we wrote was to the House of Commons Scrutiny Committee in December 2014...