Two ways to improve government policy and implementation

(These are notes I made from some readings.) Two ways to improve government policy and implementation:

Do things cheaper (efficiency)

• Technical proficiency
• Understand the details (devil is in the detail)
• Cost effective/ Value for money
• Contestability, collective bargaining by government (in procurement)
• Customer centric

Do things differently (innovation)

• Always ask: What is Government’s role? Sunset all grants, programs, subsidies (in addition to regulations)
• Imagination/ aspiration. Aspire for the world-best.
• Create room to innovate. Be prepared to fail (but don’t fail on the same thing twice). Seek opposite views. Be concerned about the big stuff.
• Private sector service delivery: facilitate the community in delivering its own needs (e.g. dams/ roads: allocate property rights)
• Use technology to increase transparency, build mobile apps (getting citizens to work for you for free – i.e. pothole identification; feedback which builds knowledge, patients can share their stories)