Visualizations, technology and the power to influence policy

In this paper we explore the influence of visualizations and the technologies used to create and distribute them on the process and outcome of public policymaking. We will analyze nine qualitative case studies, three on agenda setting, three on policy design and decision making and three on policy evaluation. We find that the choice of the technologies used to create a visual event increases transparency and impacts policy greatly. Also we find that the type of story which is told affects the way policy is created or changed.