Closing the Policy Lag in Changing and Challenging Times
A new book from Harvard Business Review provides policymakers with practical help on how to catch up with and adapt to rapid change in democratic capitalism at the end of a weird year.
Authors
Paul W. Taylor |
Email : ptaylor@governing.com Twitter : @pwtaylorPaul W. Taylor, Ph.D., is the editor of Governing. He also serves as the chief content officer of e.Republic, Governing’s parent organization, as well as senior advisor to the Governing Institute. Prior to joining e.Republic, Taylor served as deputy Washington state CIO and chief of staff of the state Information Services Board (ISB). Dr. Taylor came to public service following decades of work in media, Internet start-ups and academia. He is also among a number of affiliated experts with the non-profit, non-partisan Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) in Washington, D.C.
THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
How the Kennedy Election Started Big Data and Voting Blocks
Jill Lepore’s new book, “If Then” explores the men and the machines behind the rise of modern computing, data analytics and the dark impact of technology on politics, elections and democracy itself.
THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
Reopening the Economy Under COVID-19: States Plot a Way Back
Governing is building a 50-state map to visualize the changes underway to declare states “Open for Business” even as the coronavirus remains at large across the country.
More Help Is Likely on the Way for States and Localities and the Coronavirus-caused Recession — Including an Obscure Source of Federal Aid for Muni Bonds
Plus, drafting a fourth stimulus bill before the $2 trillion package is sorted out, considering recession scenarios, state positioning as economy shudders, and credit ratings could be more vulnerable than budgets.
THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
It's Phreaking 2020: Curiosity and Humor Key to Keep Driving Tech Forward
Disruption has long been a cornerstone of technology innovation, and new “hacks” to old problems remain essential to dreaming up and creating what’s new and what’s next — and asking whether we even need it.
New Stimulus Plan Intended to Soften Effects of COVID-19 Recession
Plus, U.S. now logs 100 cases across all 50 states, IMF lays out three-part global strategy, Muni bonds hit hard by coronavirus, and other budget effects.
Continuing Volatility Over Coronavirus, Cashlessness and Crypto
Plus, more tax software woes, fintech financial raises for building projects soften for 2020, Texas school district loses millions in phishing scam, and Americans would sell their privacy out for cheap on Facebook.
Climate Change as Catalyst for New Discipline of Spatial Finance
Plus, 50-State Fiscal Forecast Looking Up, New Bonding for CA Public Schools, and Privatization of NYC Public Housing.
Tax Pre-Season Is Underway with (Un)usual Jockeying, a New Simpler W-4 and a Better Deal for Low-Income Tax Filers
This week, Governing’s Future of Finance examines the moves made in advance of tax season, California’s crackdown on traffic fine scofflaws, the world’s largest money manager is making the climate crisis its primary investment criterion, and MIT’s “significant” Jeffrey Epstein mistakes.
The Tech Companies Helping Government Meet Its Mission
The fourth annual GovTech 100 list will be released this week.
Can Free Money Make Up for Widescale Job Loss?
Faced with the prospect of up to a third of jobs being eliminated by automation in the next decade, governments are taking another look at Universal Basic Income.
Homeless Donations Are Missing Something: Tampons
A nonprofit helped Athens, Ga., address this often-ignored need and wants to expand its services.
An Experiment in Civic Engagement
MIT researchers are trying something new to see if they can explain -- if not repair -- the relationship between the public and the government.
Governments Don't Always Pay Hackers, But What If They Did?
Going against the FBI's ransomware advice is one way state chief information officers are thinking for themselves.
Data Is Improving Government Services, But at What Cost to Citizens' Privacy?
Data now informs almost everything the public sector does, and it also informs on us.
Managing Citizen Engagement Overload
When government gets too much of a good thing, can open-source technology help?
SXSW Takeaways: 'The Immediate Future Is All About Cities'
Austin Mayor Steve Adler and several other city leaders discuss their experience at this year's South by Southwest conference.
SXSW 2018: What Mayors Want
Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson of Gary, Ind., and Mayor Darrell Steinberg of Sacramento spoke on a special SXSW preview episode of Governing's newest podcast, Go Public.
2 Strategies, 1 Goal: Helping Cities Solve Problems
NYCx and Urban-X have similar names but different models for coming up with better ways to deliver government services.
Podcast: As Cities Look At Options For Financing Infrastructure, They Keep An Eye Out For Low-Income Residents
Four cities -- Pittsburgh, St. Paul, the District of Columbia and San Francisco -- field-tested collaborative approaches to paying for things that cities need.
The Districts Podcast: Getting to Know Capital Metro in Austin, Texas
Taking a brief look back at our recent on-the-ground events and getting to know Texas' Capital Metropolitan Authority.
The Districts Podcast: Detroit and Houston or Bust
Going deep on The Districts' program and purpose.
Podcast: Building a New Urban Practice, City by City
A pop-up podcast recorded with a live audience that captures key learnings from the cities that learned them - detailed here with a full transcript.
Podcast: Inspiring, Enabling, and Teaching Teams to Become Public Entrepreneurs
A pop-up podcast recorded with a live audience that captures key learnings from the cities that learned them - detailed here with a full transcript.
Podcast: A People-Centric Approach to Producing Impact for Low-Income Residents
A pop-up podcast recorded with a live audience that captures key learnings from the cities that learned them - detailed here with a full transcript.
Will Urban Innovation Teams Outlast Political Change?
They have become a staple in several cities. Whether they stay around is up to new mayors in charge.
How the City Accelerator Works
3-year, $3 million collaboration to kickstart urban innovation crowdsources reviews of city pitches in selecting which ones will enter the City Accelerator
Texas Senator's Twitter Typo Causes Accidental Gay Marriage Endorsement
Politicians took to Twitter to respond to the court's decision to strike down Texas' ban on same-sex marriage.
Anonymous Blogging: Helpful or Hurtful?
Some media websites allow people to blog without disclosing their identities, but some worry that can confuse readers and spread misinformation.
Everything is Awesome: The LEGO Movie as Metaphor for FutureStructure
Animated feature about building blocks and the people who love them illustrates the softer side of FutureStructure
Campaign Video: Republican Candidate to California - Stop Gov. Brown's High Speed 'Crazy Train'
A former US Treasury Official pivots toward run for Governor's office takes aim at $68 billion rail initiative
When Social Media Hits Home
How one agency handled a tragedy as it unfolded live on Twitter.
Video: Christie's 2-Hour Lesson in Damage Control
The governor put in one of the best performances of his career.
Why Do Politicians Prefer Old Media?
Even though Americans are increasingly looking to online media for their news, public officials still give preference to TV and print newspapers when responding to requests for information.
VIDEO: Washington State's Tax Breaks for Boeing
The legislature's unusually short three-day special session delivered on half of what the company wanted; the rest is in the hands of unionized machinists.
Can Online News Outlets Help Fill Statehouse Reporting's Void?
Some worry that the drop in the number of reporters covering state capitals and the slow death of print media are making public officials and institutions less accountable.
The Blurred Lines Between Social Media & Censorship
Indiana’s governor and D.C.’s transit agency got caught up in controversies after removing comments off their social media accounts. The takeaway? Public officials need to learn to keep their fingers off the delete button.
Public Officials Beware: Media Will Uncover Your Lies
A little lie the Seattle mayor told his constituents about a gun buyback program may now cost him his re-election. It’s a lesson for all public officials about dealing with reporters.
Are State Shield Laws a Double-Edged Sword?
Shield laws provide predictability, say media advocates. But some worry that championing such laws puts journalists in the same arena with those they cover.
Supreme Court Looks at State Public Records Rules
A case before the nation’s highest court could change the way citizens, journalists and entrepreneurs access government-held information.
The Tricky Business of Commercial Advertising in Public Places
Public transit systems have accepted advertising for a long time. But it’s not always without controversy.
What Privacy Means to Americans vs. Europeans
Experts are worried that disparate privacy rules between the two could pose a threat to future growth.
Is Universal Phone Service a Sleeper Issue to Watch in 2013?
There are conflicting pressures on the universal service fee to maintain “plain old telephone service” on one hand and help pay for a broadband future on the other.
Santa Claus and a Civics Lesson
A 115-year-old editorial on the existence of Santa Claus sheds light on the future of civics in America.
Georgia Attracts Unlikely Students to Government Jobs
An internship program in Georgia is hoping to open young minds to a career in public service.
Electric Vehicles’ Role in Meeting New Efficiency Rules
One man’s test of the electric vehicle charging infrastructure along the West Coast highlights the hurdles ahead for states and localities in meeting the Obama administration’s new fuel efficiency rules.
Rethinking the Parking Lot
Everything we know about the automobile is under scrutiny, and so is everything we know about the parking lot. Should they be made of concrete or grass? Is their greatest purpose to generate revenue, store cars or act as a public space for people?
Social Media and Public Finance: The Odd Couple
Public finance departments are significantly less likely than government in general to use social media or see its value in engaging with constituents. It might be time for this to change.
North Carolina Politics Get in the Way of Governing
Gov. Bev Perdue and at least 30 state lawmakers have decided not to run for reelection this fall, many of them citing the loss of civility and willingness to compromise when it comes to doing the public’s business.
One Legislative Organization Eschews Politics
The State Legislative Leaders Foundation strives to provide “serious learning experiences” for its core constituency of about 500 legislative officials -- regardless of what party they belong to.
Mayor Brenda Lawrence Walks a Mile in Their Shoes
In Southfield, Mich., the mayor takes early morning walks with her constituents – a move that’s changed the physical and civic health of her city.
Recession Recovery: Local Governments Must Guide the Way
People are finally starting to bounce back from the recession, and they’re looking to local governments -- not the feds or the states -- to guide them into a better future.
Occupy Wall Street: What Does Its Future Hold?
The movement’s founder says short, surprise occupations and targeted messaging could force officials to address income inequality.
Government Cloud Computing May Sustain Public Records
The fate of Data.gov, which housed hundreds of thousands of public data when its funding got cut, may contain the outlines of a model for sustaining digital records.
Not Yet a State, Puerto Rico Practices Good Governance
Puerto Rico, which will vote on whether to become a state this summer, has reduced its spending by 20 percent in just two years with the help of public-private partnerships.
A Call to Solve the National Obesity Problem
Less than twenty years ago, no states had an obesity rate higher than 20 percent. Today, no state has a rate lower than that.
Full-Service Government Comes to an End
Whether we like it or not, it’s time to expect less -- lots less -- from government.
Taking the Speed Out of High Speed Rail
Some studies say that sticking with faster (rather than the fastest) rail would allow the Northwest to transport more riders for half the cost.
GOVERNING Data: Stories Hiding in Plain Sight
GOVERNING is expanding our use of data and our efforts to put job-critical information in the hands of government leaders and practitioners
The Nasty, Ineffective World of Politics
Politically-involved high school students could teach legislators a thing or two about compromise.
Even the Sun Needs an Advocate
The success of New York City’s solar efforts wouldn’t have been possible without its on-the-ground ombudsmen.
A Fundamentally Different-Looking Government
In Oregon, hard legislative choices reflect national structural changes under way.
A Real Tea Party Moment?
State and local governments want to dump a costly tax provision that would bring more costs at a most inopportune time.
Reinventing the Food Stamp Program
Free-market economists argue that replacing welfare programs with direct cash grants to the poor would require a smaller bureaucracy and be more beneficial to those in need.
Can Texas Find a Future for a Third of its Workforce?
Almost a third of the state's workforce is neither a knowledge worker or a service worker. How will the state train and create jobs for this sect of the workforce?
Why Hasn't Voting by Mail Spread?
Voting by mail is popular in the states that allow it. But some states are hesitant to make such a switch.
Keeping Track of What's Important
A list of priorities and issues helps public officials remember what really matters in tough fiscal times.
New York City's Ailment-Curing Prescription
America’s largest city shares lessons in urban renewal.
Maintaining Productivity During the Holidays
State and local officials are thinking pragmatically this holiday season.
Washington State Voters: No to Candy and Income Tax
The defeat of taxes on candy and income, plus approval of a supermajority needed for future take hikes, removes a "path forward" for policymakers.
Politics: Problem or Solution?
Despite polarization, politics is still the way to get things done.
The Resiliance of Procurement Reform in Georgia
A political transition down South will test the resilience of procurement reform.
Confectionary Man Takes on Candy Tax
In this audio interview, the "candy man" featured this month's Dispatch column talks to GOVERNING about how taxes against candy are unfair.
Revolving Around the Sun
A new model of how transparency works changes the view of open government.
Pothole Principles
Preventing small problems from growing bigger takes on significance in today's economy.