February 1, 2015
The Benefits of a Better Town-and-Gown Relationship
Perhaps the next big thing in local government ought to be a “higher education relations officer” who leverages universities’ assets to benefit the cities they’re in.
January 1, 2015
The 3 Flavors of Corruption
What seems like a growing trend of overdiagnosing corruption has negative consequences for not only public officials but the people they serve.
December 1, 2014
Why Loneliness Should Matter to Governments
How the public sector can use data and analytics to help knit communities back together.
November 1, 2014
With Big Data Comes Bigger Goals
Today’s performance management tools eliminate the old ways of thinking about what government can and can’t do.
October 1, 2014
Lessons from the Grateful Dead on Replacing Workers with Technology
If managers don't know when technology should replace people, they can destroy the product they're trying to create.
September 1, 2014
Want More Crime with That Burger?
Good jobs are proven to reduce crime, yet much of the economy's recent growth is due to dead-end jobs with low wages and no benefits.
August 1, 2014
How to Get Public Workers to Care About Their Jobs
A book by a government HR expert explains what drives public-sector workers and how that differs from the private sector.
July 1, 2014
The Real Threat to Democracy: Money Problems
Prudent fiscal stewardship is essential to self-government.
June 1, 2014
A Better Way to Save Jobs: Employee Stock Ownership Plans
ESOPs give employees part ownership of their companies and prevent major job losses when owners retire. But only two states support them.
May 1, 2014
South Korea’s Street-Level Transparency
The country removes the anonymousness of government by publicly identifying the people responsible for particular projects on street signs. It’s an anti-corruption approach that has lots of possibilities for U.S. governments.
April 1, 2014
Will Financial Reporting Finally Make Sense?
Paul Volcker and Richard Ravitch’s State Budget Crisis Task Force recommends ways government can make reporting cleaner, clearer and simpler.
March 1, 2014
A Better Way to Link Policy Analysis and Performance Management
Results-based accountability measures results in the real world.
February 3, 2014
The People Who Will Give Americans the Government They Want
Trust in government is at historic lows. That will change, but it will happen from the bottom up.
February 1, 2014
Why Governments Need to Treat Labor Unions with Respect
For one town, dealing honestly with its unions paid off.
January 27, 2014
Advice for New Mayors: Watch Your Mouth
It's tempting to plunge in and try to fix everything right away. But in trying to do too much too soon, it's easy to say something dumb and get into trouble.
January 21, 2014
The Reforms That Public Pensions Really Need
As two experts demonstrate, there's more to the problems faced by state and local retirement systems than mere political shenanigans.
January 13, 2014
Florida Lawmakers and the Thwarted Will of the People
The state's voters want to reform redistricting, but the legislature has paid little attention.
January 6, 2014
The Failure and the Promise of Public Participation
Outdated laws and overly formal procedures for public meetings are eroding trust in government. There are better ways than three minutes at the microphone.
January 1, 2014
All Things Fall Apart (Even Governments)
That's why organizations need constant renewal to survive.
December 16, 2013
Diane Ravitch and the Angry Rebellion against Common Core
Wielding her influential blog as a weapon, this 75-year-old activist has created a powerful network united by revulsion against top-down, elite policymaking.
December 6, 2013
Learning to Love the Numbers of Government
Governments' financial statements may seem intimidating to those without number-crunching expertise. But these documents contain important information that public officials need to know. Here's how to find it.
November 30, 2013
'Operator Perry Loves You!'
Governments really are in a competition. A lot is at stake.
November 25, 2013
How to Stop the Economic Development Wars
Tax incentives and other giveaways to business don't create prosperity. It's time for a federal law to stop the bribery and make better use of capitalism's strengths.
November 1, 2013
Why the 3 Fundamentals of Governance Are So Important
Bridgeport, Conn., illustrates why governance, debt and demographics are so crucial for a healthy functioning city.
October 21, 2013
Reducing Economic Inequality: It's About Wealth, Not Jobs
Increasing family wealth is a much better public policy goal than the standard economic development mantra of "jobs, jobs, jobs." And effective strategies won't come from Washington.
October 15, 2013
California, Fiscal Reform and the Elusive 'Policy Window'
Can the state ever find a way out of its structural budget problems? A new book might suggest a path for places wrestling with policy dilemmas.
October 1, 2013
The Enemy of Good Management
A new book has it right: We need to change the way we budget.
September 30, 2013
Accountability, Transparency and the Uncertain Future of GASB
The standards-setting board for government financial reporting has been embroiled in one controversy after another, but the latest fight could result in the gutting of GASB's influence.
September 9, 2013
When the Government Workspace Is Dirty and Dangerous
It’s tough to find the money and political support to provide public workers with safe, clean places to do their jobs. Tennessee went the privatization route, and the results look promising.
September 1, 2013
The Public Safety Tipping Point: When Saving Money Loses Lives
You can only tell you're not spending enough on public safety when it’s too late.
August 26, 2013
Municipal Securities and the Exploding Demand for Transparency
Wary investors and analysts not only want more information than ever, they want better information and they want it all now. Giving it to them could be a good deal for governments.
August 12, 2013
The Challenge for Detroit's Next Mayor: Getting Along with the Neighbors
Regime change is coming to Detroit. The next mayor will have an opportunity to heal the long dysfunctional marriage between the city and its suburbs.
August 1, 2013
IRS Scandal Shows What Happens When Bureaucracy is Pushed Too Far
Bureaucracy allows us to do big things. But like every tool, it needs to be maintained and wielded with care and control.
July 29, 2013
Job Creation and the Snake Oil of Tax Incentives
The pressure to give away the public's money for economic development is as strong as ever, but the pushback is growing.
July 22, 2013
Kevyn Orr, Rick Snyder and a Genuine Effort to Reinvent Detroit
Emergency manager Kevyn Orr and Gov. Rick Snyder say they want the city to emerge from bankruptcy as a livable, sustainable city. It looks like they really mean it.
July 11, 2013
Mike Hein's Campaign to Reinvent Ulster County, N.Y.
A New York county manager who made the jump to elective office is looking to fundamentally change how local government operates.
July 1, 2013
Why the Federal Budget Crisis Won't be Solved in Washington
Washington can't fix the broken structure that it built. The key is for state and local officials to channel an aroused citizenry.
June 28, 2013
Raleigh and Oakland Are Overdoing Hands-On Government
In these cities, as in many more across the country, elected council members have confused governing with administering.
June 24, 2013
The SEC and Harrisburg: the Wrong Path to Fiscal Transparency
In charging Harrisburg with securities fraud based partly on a former mayor's state-of-the-city speech, the SEC is taking a path it shouldn't.
May 30, 2013
A How-To Manual for Bringing Citizens' Voices to the Public-Policy Table
It's vital that we begin restoring the public's trust in government. A recently published book amounts to a detailed manual for officials who want to take on that challenge.
May 30, 2013
Los Angeles Leads the Way in Police Auditing
After a police scandal involving illegal and unethical behavior, Los Angeles started the nation’s first school designed to train people to audit cops.
May 13, 2013
How a Foundation's Winning Programs Are Creating a Culture of Community Health
From jails to factories to streets to schools, the winning programs in a foundation's competition stretch the boundaries of what we normally think of as public health.
May 6, 2013
Appreciating Public Servants in an Age of Cynicism
In the aftermath of the Boston bombings, something interesting and unusual happened: People applauded their public employees.
April 30, 2013
Governing for a Rainy Day
Healthy reserve funds allow governments to be careful and smart.
April 24, 2013
A Powerful Measure of Urban Health: the Stroller Index
Cities compete for residents and tax base. Nothing defines urban livability more than a city that's kid-friendly.
April 18, 2013
Our Dangerous, Expensive System of Childbirth
Countries that rely heavily on midwives and home births have lower infant and maternal death rates than we do, and our numbers are getting worse. Isn't it time to rethink our reliance on hospitals and surgical interventions?
April 8, 2013
Sharing the Burdens of a Broken City
We're going to see more cities like Stockton. We need better ways to deal with the downward fiscal spiral.
April 1, 2013
What's Really Needed to Save Detroit: Democracy
Certainly spending must be cut and services must be restored, but it's essential that the voices of the loyal Detroiters who have stayed be heard.
March 29, 2013
How to Insult Government Workers
There are lots of problems with pay for performance, but one of the most salient is that it implies that employees are slackers.
March 28, 2013
How Four Students Solved a Difficult Mental-Health Service Problem
The winners of this year's National Public Policy Challenge had a guiding principle: Think big, start small.
March 21, 2013
A Transplant from Queens in the Heart of the Confederacy
Stephen Benjamin, the mayor of Columbia, S.C., has ambitious goals for his city. He's off to a strong start.
March 11, 2013
The Tools We Need to Help Poor Neighborhoods
The Community Reinvestment Act doesn't always get at underlying economic issues. It's time to redesign it.
February 28, 2013
A Transportation Funding Power Shift
States are moving into the void left by Washington’s paralysis.
February 28, 2013
A Small-Town Mayor in the National Arena
Clarence Anthony, the National League of Cities' new executive director, wants the NLC to be a strike force for cities at a time when our federal system is undergoing profound changes.
February 25, 2013
Giving Citizens Numbers They Can Understand
'Citizen-centric' financial reporting is a way for governments to improve transparency and accountability. It isn't hard, so why aren't more jurisdictions doing it?
February 21, 2013
Municipal Securities and the Waiting Game
Federal law gives the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board the authority to protect issuers, but it can't do that job until the SEC gives it a tool it needs.
February 7, 2013
Our Ebbing Urge to Incarcerate
California seems to be finding a way out of its prison-overcrowding problems. Have we decided that locking up so many people isn't the best way to keep the public safe?
January 31, 2013
The Emerging Power of China's Auditors
Cracking down on corruption is critical to China's growth.
January 31, 2013
The Real Role of Cities
As one thoughtful city manager see it, in our focus on service delivery we're lost sight of a fundamental purpose of government.
January 28, 2013
Can You Run a Government on $9.90 an Hour?
There are signs that the pendulum is swinging away from the anti-public-employee rhetoric of recent years. That's good for governments and for the people they serve.
January 23, 2013
Bringing a 'Green Tint' to Sacramento
Mayor Kevin Johnson has big ideas for California's capital. Will the drive that made him an NBA star serve him as he tries to remake his city?
January 16, 2013
Lincoln and the Dirty Business of Politics
Appealing to rightness and reason is rarely enough to achieve big things. Politics requires dealing with human beings, and human beings are flawed.
January 10, 2013
Michelle Rhee, Education and the Inputs-Outcomes Trap
Her rankings of states' education policies look at things from the wrong direction. It's a discussion we do need to have, but first we need to tone down the rhetoric.
January 7, 2013
The Political Future of a Browning America
People of color now account for most of the country's population growth. That has profound implications for the way elections are won and the nation is governed.
January 3, 2013
Can a 'Millennial Mayor' Turn a Factory Town Around?
Things are beginning to look up for Fitchburg, Mass., under Lisa Wong's leadership. It hasn't been easy.
December 28, 2012
The Secret to Massachusetts’ High Credit Rating
Massachusetts has the highest credit rating it’s ever had. Its secret? Discipline.
December 20, 2012
A Fraudster's Nightmare Called 'Bubba'
Tennessee's Arthur Hayes has had a major impact on the world of government auditing. Don't get him started on "gray areas."
December 13, 2012
Childhood Obesity and the Medicaid Squeeze
We're beginning to turn this serious health problem around. That is very good news for efforts to get our health-care costs under control.
December 10, 2012
Community Health and the Competition for Jobs
Community health is about more than quality of life. Increasingly, companies are basing their location decisions on the availability of a healthy workforce.
December 6, 2012
Barking Dogs and the Potluck Model of Government
A city in California is working to move beyond the customer-service approach to government and engage citizens as problem-solvers.
December 3, 2012
Houston's Mayor and the Imperative to Compete
For Annise Parker, competing globally is about a lot more than delivering services efficiently.
November 30, 2012
The Fiscal Future That Won’t Happen
Arithmetic always triumphs; our unsustainable trends will stop. What matters is how.
November 29, 2012
The Need for Data with Meaning
Community-indicator projects are popping up all over. They are serving an important function for regions that must compete on a global scale.
November 19, 2012
The Real Story of Public Pensions
An important new book provides insights far beyond the conventional wisdom and the political arguments.
November 15, 2012
A Crucial Player in Effective Governance
To see how much impact an auditor can have in improving the way government is run, look no further than California's Elaine Howle.
November 8, 2012
You Won the Election. Now Go Meet Your Auditor.
Auditors can flush out government's fat rabbits and lurking demons. But they can do a lot more than that: They can help you govern effectively.
November 5, 2012
What the Schools Can Learn from the Cops
The way law enforcement has been transformed points the way to fixing out broken public-education system.
November 1, 2012
When the Press Asks Uncomfortable Questions
Public officials should pay attention, as a town in Missouri learned the hard way. If an economic-development deal seems too good to be true, maybe it is.
October 31, 2012
Can California Fix Its Budget Problems?
Changes in its political system may point the way for it to meet financial challenges.
October 29, 2012
The Very Plugged-In Mayor of Long Beach
Bob Foster is a former energy-company president, but expertise in that subject isn't the only thing he brings to his city.
October 25, 2012
Weaving Innovation into the Fabric of Government
Can the search for new ideas be institutionalized? Some people think so, and what they're doing could be just what government needs.
October 22, 2012
The Mayor Who's Determined to Bring Flint Back
Dayne Walling came back to his hometown intent on turning it around. Don't bet against him.
October 18, 2012
Fraud, Waste, Abuse and Big Scary Numbers
Drawing distinctions is important for better policy responses. That doesn't happen very often.
October 11, 2012
Government and the Big Unknowns
We don't know what kind of huge, transformation events are coming, but one thing is certain: Governments will have to be ready to deal with them.
October 4, 2012
Why 'Politics' Shouldn't Be a Dirty Word
It's the way we get things done as a society. We seem to have lost sight of that.
October 1, 2012
Bicycles, Beer and the Factory Jobs that Aren't Coming Back
Manufacturing is going the way of agriculture, which technology has reshaped to employ ever-fewer workers. But traditional manufacturing isn't the only game in town.
September 28, 2012
Cities, Counties and the Urge to Merge
Consolidating governments is hard to do, but the idea keeps coming up.
September 27, 2012
When the Music Stops
A lot of our symphony orchestras are in trouble, and the changing nature of cities is part of the problem. But Buck Owens may have some lessons for Beethoven.
September 24, 2012
Essential Values and the American Character
We're better than we think we are, and so are our leaders. Just ask Tony Blair.
September 20, 2012
The Bottom-Line Benefit of a Healthier Public Workforce
Some approaches to employee wellness programs have more of a track record than others. But they clearly can save a lot of money.
September 17, 2012
The Subtle Slide into Municipal Bankruptcy
The insolvency that leads to local-government bankruptcy unfolds gradually. Public officials need to monitor and heed the early warnings.
September 13, 2012
The Inexorable Pressure to Say Something Dumb
The 24-hour news cycle makes it all too easy for public officials to react too quickly. They would do better to "think gray."
September 10, 2012
Riots, Rebellions and the Importance of Social Order
Effective government is critical to the stability we need for society to function. These days, that stability is threatened.
August 31, 2012
What We Need Our Auditors to Do
It’s more crucial than ever to know whether government programs are effective.
August 29, 2012
Cops, Cutbacks and Crime
It’s clear that more police, strategically deployed, reduce crime. Cities that are cutting their police forces are risking more than public safety.
August 27, 2012
Government’s Big Bags of Money
Many jurisdictions lack good internal controls for handling the money their employees collect. A treasurers’ group can help fix that.
August 23, 2012
The Qualities an Auditor Really Needs
Being a CPA isn’t necessarily one of them. Independence, courage and leadership are more important.
August 20, 2012
When the Public’s Money Disappears
A team from the SEC has a message for public treasurers: If something "seems weird," give us a call.
August 16, 2012
Can a Very Determined Mayor Save Gary, Indiana?
The declining industrial city has tried all the usual economic-development approaches. Mayor Freeman-Wilson has other ideas.
August 13, 2012
Why the State Budget Crisis is Real
According to two new reports, states’ fiscal situation is either (a) looking better or (b) looking worse. Pay attention to (b).
August 9, 2012
Why Ethics Training is a Waste
It won’t stop the worst abuses. Making everybody in government sit through it is like fishing for minnows, but it’s the sharks that are the problem.
August 6, 2012
Government and the Making of Our Markets
A new book argues that markets are political creations -- not natural occurrences -- that we can shape to increase prosperity.
August 2, 2012
Regular Folks and the People in Charge
The mainstream public and the political class have very different ideas about what government should do. It’s a gap that is broadening and deepening.
July 30, 2012
Never Having to Say You’re Sorry
To err is human. Public officials shouldn’t be reluctant to admit mistakes and to apologize for them.
July 26, 2012
Our Deadly Health-Care Disconnect
Despite the billions we spend on programs like Medicaid, some desperately ill patients fall through the cracks.
July 16, 2012
The Secrets of Sioux Falls’ Success
While other cities flounder in fiscal distress, the South Dakota city thrives. Its long-term commitment to prudence keeps paying off.
July 12, 2012
Productivity and the Value of a Public Worker
We focus too much on how much government employees are paid. The real question we should be asking is what a good public worker is worth.
July 9, 2012
Why Honest Numbers Are Good for Public Pensions
The new pension-accounting standards for governments were bitterly opposed by unions and many pension administrators, but they are good for governments, their employees and their taxpayers.
July 2, 2012
John Roberts and the Defiance of the Tribe
In choosing a courageous path in the health-care ruling, the chief justice acted to protect and strengthen institutions that are in a very fragile place.
June 28, 2012
The Myth That We Lack Good Leaders
There are as many of them as there ever have been. Sometimes, though, it takes us a while to recognize them.
June 25, 2012
Dogtown and the Dirtiest City in America
Santa Monica and Chattanooga were in trouble a few decades ago. They placed their bets on sustainability, and today it’s paying off.
June 21, 2012
Our Brewing Federal Fiscal Calamity
We can’t keep borrowing to pay for the basic operating costs of government.
June 18, 2012
Why Our Unions Need to Leave Politics Behind
A strong labor movement is good for the country. Unions should stop doling out campaign cash and focus on organizing.
June 14, 2012
America’s Looming Pension Shock
After decades of gains, millions of Americans are slipping into poverty just as they near retirement age. The result will be a crisis for governments — one that they should be thinking about now.
June 11, 2012
The Question Our Auditors Don’t Answer: Is This Program Working?
Ferreting out waste and mismanagement is important, but what we really need from our watchdogs is work that improves the public’s trust in government.
June 7, 2012
Cities and the Coming Walmart Invasion
The world’s biggest retailer wants to build stores in urban areas. That’s good for cities, but they need to be careful.
June 4, 2012
Why We Shouldn’t Be Cutting Higher Ed
Reducing our investments in public colleges and universities — one of our great engines of economic development — may cost more than it saves.
May 31, 2012
Human Services and Our Obsession with Fraud
Sometimes it seems as if all we care about in delivering benefits is making sure the wrong people don’t get them. There are more important things to worry about.
May 24, 2012
The Real Costs of Infrastructure
It’s hard to find trillions of dollars to fix our infrastructure. But not fixing our roads and bridges and ports is also expensive — and not just in dollars.
May 21, 2012
When Citizens Understand the Cost of Government
There’s more to engaging the public in governance — making them part of decisions about paying for the services they value — than simply ‘educating’ them.
May 17, 2012
Random Idiots and Useless Blowhard Gasbags
Bad things happen, and the media amplifies them. But they are not the indicators of the decline of our culture that some would have us believe.
May 14, 2012
Why We Shouldn’t Fear a Shrinking Labor Force
It’s good for our communities when toiling for a paycheck isn’t the only thing people do.
May 10, 2012
Public Service in an Age of Corrosive Cynicism
As disdain for government grows, it’s more important than ever to recognize those who do outstanding work.
May 7, 2012
Counties and the Revenue Crisis that Won’t Go Away
Saddled with antiquated revenue structures, county governments don’t have the flexibility they need to meet modern expectations for service delivery.
May 3, 2012
One City’s Comeback from the Fiscal Brink
The Kansas community of Junction City got itself into serious financial trouble. Now, without emergency managers or threats of bankruptcy, it’s getting itself out.
April 30, 2012
How We’re Losing the War on Corruption
Increasingly, we’re trivializing ethics and falling short on financial accountability. The citizens deserve better.
April 26, 2012
Public Pay and the Cost of Transparency
Many public officials don’t want their compensation posted online for all to see. That’s understandable. But making government workers’ pay public is probably inevitable, and it raises some difficult questions.
April 23, 2012
The Expensive Folly of Tax Incentives
There is little evidence that giving away the taxpayers’ money for economic development works. Only the market can create jobs.
April 19, 2012
Leading from the Middle
Organizational change, the mantra goes, must come from the top. Not necessarily.
April 16, 2012
Five Reasons for Hope and Optimism
Amid all the gloom and doom, with our constant focus on what’s wrong, there are some hopeful things happening.
April 12, 2012
Charles Dickens’ Fiscal Lessons for Government
Managing the taxpayers’ money wisely is about more than balancing the books. The daily lives of ordinary people are at stake.
April 9, 2012
The Wastebusters that Government Needs
The scandal at the General Services Administration illustrates the value of inspectors general. Trust in government is at stake, so why are so many federal IG positions vacant?
April 5, 2012
The Big Mistake that Unions Are Making
Accepting wage and benefit cuts to preserve jobs is bad for unions, and it’s bad for the rest of us.
April 2, 2012
Public Pensions and the Infrastructure We Need
It's going to cost a lot of money to bring our infrastructure systems up to snuff. Public pensions could have a big role to play.
March 29, 2012
A Competition for Ideas in Public Policy
An event coming up in Philadelphia promises to go a long way toward matching the challenges government faces with ideas coming out of some of the top schools of public policy.
March 26, 2012
The Incalculable Things that Define Us
As we try to measure everything that moves, we need to remember that some of the most important things about us can’t be measured.
March 22, 2012
Our Misguided Love Affair with Political Consensus
It’s the polarizers, not the consensus-seekers, who get the big things done.
March 19, 2012
The Numbers that Tell the Real Story
We rely too much on aggregate data about our cities and states. It’s the differences among the numbers that are truly important.
March 15, 2012
The Inherent Tensions of Regulation
None of us are angels. Government regulatory and inspection programs are a crucial way of making up for that.
March 12, 2012
Bridges and the Inexorable Laws of Physics
Structurally deficient bridges will fall. The only question is when. We need to be thinking about risks like those, and about what to do about them.
March 8, 2012
Collaboration and the Outcomes We Need
Competition in government service delivery is powerful, but it isn’t sufficient. The best leaders are recognizing that.
March 5, 2012
How Not to Protect Kids from Sexual Assault
Only a few states have complied with a federal law requiring sex-offender registration and notification. The rest have good reasons for holding out.
February 29, 2012
Getting the Fiscal Fundamentals Wrong
Stockton’s fiscal meltdown isn't the result of a dumb idea or corruption. That's why it’s particularly scary.
December 23, 2011
The Once and Future City
The head of the Governing Institute found a couple of surprises when he looked at population trends in a number of U.S. cities. Populations in big and small cities are bouncing back.
December 19, 2011
The Postal Ties That Bind
The Governing Insitute's director explains that in thousands of small towns and cities across the country, the local post office is seen as the heart and soul of the community.
December 12, 2011
Advice For New City Mayors
New mayors stepped up to the rigors of campaigning and succeeded in getting themselves elected. Now, they begin the hard part.
November 17, 2011
Opinion: Let’s Stop Taking the People’s Money to the Casino
In light of recent events involving Solyndra, Governing Institute head Mark Funkhouser explains how government can have a role in job creation without being venture capitalists.
October 11, 2011
Finding Our Way Out of a Nobel-Caliber Economic Mess
"Regular people" still struggle even as economists interpret their behavior for policymakers.
August 31, 2011
The Other 20 Words That Make a Great Promise Real
Reflections on a lesser-known part of the Declaration of Independence remind us that good government is needed to secure our unalienable rights.