Evidence Economy

An economic system in which evidence—data, studies, statistics—functions as a form of capital that can be accumulated, traded, and leveraged for influence. In the evidence economy, those who produce or control evidence (researchers, institutions, think tanks) have power, while those without it (laypeople, marginalized communities) are excluded. The evidence economy privileges quantitative, peer‑reviewed, and expensive-to-produce evidence over experiential or traditional knowledge, creating a hierarchy of credibility.

Example: “The community’s oral history was dismissed, while a flawed study funded by a corporation was treated as definitive. The evidence economy had spoken: money buys evidentiary authority.”

Evidence Market

The competitive arena where evidence is produced, evaluated, and exchanged for status, funding, and influence. In the evidence market, researchers compete for publications, citations, and grants; institutions market their “evidence‑based” credentials; and policymakers demand evidence before acting, often as a delay tactic. The evidence market rewards certain kinds of evidence (RCTs, meta‑analyses) over others (qualitative, community‑based), and it can be gamed by those with resources.

Example: “The industry funded its own studies, which became the ‘best evidence’ in the debate. The evidence market had been captured by the highest bidder.”

Evidence Economy by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal April 20, 2026