INFORMING SOCIETY IN THE 21 st CENTURY

1. INFORMING SOCIETY IN THE 21st CENTURY X Reunion De Ministros De La Presidencia Y Equivalentes De Iberoamerica (RIMPE) Cartagena De Indias, Colombia October 12, 2006

2. “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

3. 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?

4. OVERVIEW The Problem • The Need and the Audiences • Timing and Urgency The Solution • The State of the USA • Leadership and Strategy The Results • Impact and Value

5. 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.

6. Audiences for The State of the USA • Non-governmental organizations and interest groups • Editors, journalists and media organizations • Business leaders and wholesale information providers • Government policy makers at all levels of society • Students and educators • Interested and engaged civic leaders and citizens

7. Now is the Time for a U.S. Key Indicator System • Major new investments are being made in data and technology. • The practice of key indicator systems is developing quickly. • Demand for new sources of information continues to grow. • Information infrastructures offer economies of scale at national level • Marginal investments in dissemination have high potential payoffs. • A substantial opportunity and obligation exists for civic leadership.

8. OVERVIEW The Problem • The Need and the Audiences • Timing and Urgency The Solution • The State of the USA • Leadership and Strategy The Results • Impact and Value

9. A Viable Solution – The State of the USA • Content: Develop a civic and scientific process to select and continually improve a State of the USA indicator set that would best measure the progress of the nation. • Product: Provide products and services to improve the understanding and decision-making of targeted audiences. • Institution: Help make a lasting contribution to American democracy through an independent, enduring public/private partnership.

10. 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

11. Our Journey to “The State of the USA” Plan Develop Produce Grow 2003-2004 2005-2006/7 2007-2008/9 2009-2010/11 Today

12. ECONOMY Production, Productivity, National Wealth Individuals, Families, and Households Employment and Labor Markets Business Financial Markets Prices and Inflation Government and Non-Profits The World Economy SOCIETY Children Older Americans Communities and Civic Engagement Democracy and Governance Education Health Care Research and Innovation Safety National Security ENVIRONMENT Landscape Soil, Water and Air Animals, Plants and Ecosystemse Goods and Services • Quality of Life • Growth • Opportunity • Liberty • Diversity • Mobility • Poverty • Sustainability • Justice State of the USA - Indicator Topics (v.0.9)

13. State of the USA - Candidate Key Indicators • THE ECONOMY • Real gross GDP • Corporate profits • Productivity - Output per hour • Civilian unemployment • Real disposable personal income • Poverty rate • Inflation • Federal funds (interest) rate • US Trade deficit/surplus • US Federal budget deficit/surplus • THE PEOPLE • Population size and composition • Health status • Life expectancy at birth • Elementary math/reading proficiency • Educational attainment • Research and development • Living arrangements of children • Population in religious groups • Crime victimization • Tolerance • Perception of neighborhood safety • Leisure • THE ENVIRONMENT • Change in ecosystem area • Proximity to hazardous facilities • Chemical contamination on water and soil • Water quality – Nitrogen • Air quality • Mean temperature/precipitation • Changes in stream flows • At-risk native species • Biological community condition • Fuel production/Fuel consumption • Food, fiber, water withdrawals

14. Selective yet robust Serves needs of diverse audiences Covers multiple levels of society Focused but holistic Always available, one-stop shop Interactive, engaging and educational Rigorous quality assurance Allows self-customization Continually improves over time Highly transparent Responsive to feedback Multimedia approach State of the USA – Web Portal Features Selective Authoritative Comparative Versatile Valuable

15. OVERVIEW The Problem • The Need and the Audiences • Timing and Urgency The Solution • The State of the USA • Leadership and Strategy The Results • Impact and Value

16. Impact and Value • Broader audience understanding of changing conditions(e.g., Boston, Chicago) • Improved base of shared factual knowledge(e.g., Orange County – Florida) • Enriched civic dialogue (e.g., Australia – Social capital/immigration) • More informed choices (e.g., United Kingdom – Deprivation) • Enhanced collaboration and problem solving (e.g., Silicon Valley)

17. Impact and Value – Illustrations by Audience • Non-Profits and Governments – Better strategies & resource allocation choices on investments in complex issues (e.g. issue and program management) • Media – New information and tools that improve productivity, depth of coverage (e.g., immigration, safety and security)and accuracy • Business – Better insight into broad societal patterns and trends for planning, investment and product/service creation(e.g. socio-economic trends) • Education – Improved quality of curricula, increased statistical literacy, better understanding of public issues, and increased levels of meaningful civic engagement (e.g., learning networks) • 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)

18. 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 Global Business Services; Executive Group Chair, KNII 202.265.1468 or christopherhoenig@earthlink.net • Jane Ross, Project Director, The National Academies; 202.334.2092 or jross@nas.edu