Research and analysis
We examine the questions that matter most for effective government.
Explore our research and analysis
Fear of piloting
A group of Lib Dem peers want to delay national roll out of elected police commissioners until they have been piloted.
Policy iPad or policy New Coke?
According to one senior civil servant, "if we built aeroplanes the way we build policy, none would ever fly".
System Stewardship
It argues that policy makers need to see themselves as stewards of systems with multiple actors and decision makers.
Policy making in the real world
This report looks at the attempts to improve policy making over the past fourteen years.
Making policy better
Our report proposes a series of changes to embed better policy making into the system.
Special advisers: the great cull or stealthy rise?
The Coaltion pledged to "limit" the number of special advisers in government, but those numbers have been rising.
Why localism is a load of rubbish
The announcement on restricting local authority discretion on waste suggests the government does not get its own localist agenda.
Nothing to do with me?
Our report focuses on how ministerial accountability will affect the government's plans to decentralise public services.
One rule for social mobility, another for sustainability
Government pronouncements on how they will ensure progress on social mobility and sustainability reveal mixed up thinking at the heart of government.