
The Realignment
528 | Jennifer Pahlka & Andrew Greenway: The State Capacity Agenda for 2025
Jan 9, 2025
Jennifer Pahlka and Andrew Greenway, co-authors of a report on state capacity, dive into why improving government efficiency is crucial for 2025. They analyze America's struggles with timely shipbuilding and extensive approval processes for energy projects. The duo critiques the Biden administration's challenges in advancing infrastructure and discusses the urgent need for reforms across the political spectrum. Their insights on outsourcing in public services emphasize collaboration and highlight historical lessons for transforming governance.
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Quick takeaways
- State capacity is crucial for the U.S. government to effectively achieve its ambitious policy goals despite significant financial investments.
- Bureaucratic obstacles often hinder the execution of policies, leading to a gap between legislative intent and actual delivery of services.
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The Importance of State Capacity
State capacity refers to the ability of the American government at all levels to achieve its desired goals and outcomes effectively. The discussion highlights the Biden administration's ambitious plans, such as building EV charging stations and enhancing rural broadband, and questions whether the government can actually execute these initiatives. Despite significant financial investments, many projects have seen limited progress, raising concerns about the practical capabilities of state institutions to follow through on their commitments. This shows a critical gap between political ambitions and their execution, emphasizing the necessity for a renewed focus on understanding and enhancing state capacity.
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