Geoff Mulgan
Geoff Mulgan
Geoff Mulgan CBEis Chief Executive of the National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts and Visiting Professor at University College London, the London School of Economics and the University of Melbourne. Previously he was:...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionEducator
across average england europe figures government local lowest serves several simply
Local government in England is simply too big. Our lowest tier serves an average population of 118,500, while in the U.S. and across continental Europe the figures are more like several thousand.
area collar created jobs low
Recycling is an area where jobs could be created at low cost. Green collar workers. That's not very sexy.
It matters more how governments behave than how big they are.
claims consistent deliver drawn knowledge less originally people perhaps promised promote protect reason recently states truth truths uphold
Over 5,000 years, states have made surprisingly consistent claims about their duties. They have promised to protect people from threats; promote their welfare; deliver justice and also, perhaps less obviously, uphold truth - originally truths about the cosmos, and more recently truths drawn from reason and knowledge.
citizens directly messages states
States which used to communicate directly to their citizens now do so through the media, where their messages are reshaped by the logics of news values and commentary.
activity assembly civil concerns everyday helping liberties parties policies regulation rising seriously society street tide
By international standards, many of the U.K.'s policies for civil society are exemplary. However, there are concerns about constraints on civil liberties - particularly restrictions on free assembly and about the rising tide of everyday regulation has seriously impeded community activity - from organising street parties to helping children.
academia brought charge civil complex crops dissecting gm government including nuclear outside people problems schools science servant solving strategy work
As a civil servant in charge of the government's Strategy Unit, I brought in many people from outside government, including academia and science, to work in the unit, dissecting and solving complex problems from GM crops to alcohol, nuclear proliferation to schools reform.
easily societies themselves
Societies can easily talk themselves into conflict and misery. But they can also talk, and act, their way out.
achieved best crave fewer knowledge mistakes possible pound reliable results scientific
Governments should want and even crave the best possible scientific advice. With reliable knowledge come better decisions, fewer mistakes and more results achieved for each pound spent.
attic classic grand supposed
The classic think-tank is supposed to be sitting in an attic thinking up grand ideas.
bodies control death die focus full home life likely manner people pumped rather tied timing
The end of life is likely to be an important focus for innovation. Most people die in hospitals, tied up with tubes and with their bodies pumped full of drugs. Yet most would rather die at home and with more control over the timing and manner of their death.
collective turns
The market turns out to be just one special case of collective decision-making.
book government people
A lot of people in government don't really read books at all.
years justice people
Over 5,000 years, states have made surprisingly consistent claims about their duties. They have promised to protect people from threats; promote their welfare; deliver justice and also, perhaps less obviously, uphold truth - originally truths about the cosmos, and more recently truths drawn from reason and knowledge.