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Opinion

An illustration of the logos of the US Democrat and Republican parties, in front of an American flag

US midterms: five reasons why the election results matter

From the impact on government spending to the implications for US democracy, the US midterm elections will shape the years ahead. Here’s some early indications of what they will meant […]

A picture of Brazil president Lula

Lula returns: Brazil’s new president inherits huge economic challenges

Lula must tackle a hangover of Bolsonaro’s profligate public spending while attempting in a limited fiscal space to address growing poverty and malnutrition The second round of Brazil’s presidential elections […]
A picture of Ottawa's Confederation Park in autumn used under Creative Commons

Letter from Ottawa: the changing of the seasons – and eras

Politics is gearing up again in Canada as summer turns to autumn. Michael Wernick, the former clerk of the privy council and secretary to cabinet, sets out the stakes in […]
A woman sleeps on a bench at an airport.

Letter from Ottawa: a little perspective on public service problems

Passport processing delays have prompted debate about service delivery in Canada. Michael Wernick, the country’s former cabinet secretary, warns against catastrophising – and says old ways of talking about the […]
South African president Cyril Ramaphosa and president Xi Jinping of China meeting during his state visit to South Africa

A tale of two countries: why has state capture seen China boom and South Africa bust?

Government structures in South Africa struggle under what observers call state capture. Ivor Chipkin, the director of the Government and Public Policy think tank, based in Johannesburg, sets out what […]
A cartoon of a woman holding a checklist

What you find when you evaluate the effectiveness of government spending

Proper evaluation of government spending can reveal lessons that can be used to improve the quality of public services. Phil Bradburn from the UK’s National Audit Office shares what he […]
A team of colleagues work together around a table.

Contingent collaboration: inside New Zealand’s ‘what works, when’ approach to joined up government

The ability to solve problems through cross-agency collaboration has become something of a holy grail for public servants, but best practice examples have become almost overwhelmingly prolific. In his new […]

Two ministers, one department: can Australia’s new environment super-department work?

Good news, Australia – the environment is back. The country’s new government has introduced a new super-department covering climate change, energy, the environment and water. But while the ministry move […]

Future proof: what public servants need to know now about the world of 2050

Leading economics journalist Hamish McRae shares the insight from his latest book The World in 2050, and predicts that a changing climate, a recasting of globalisation, and a need for […]
Piles of silver coins acting as stepping stones

Three reasons universal basic income pilots haven’t led to policy change – despite their success

Universal basic income – a tax-free, unconditional sum of money regularly given to everyone in a society – has repeatedly been shown to help the most vulnerable groups in society. […]