Complexity and the Art of Public Policy

"A much-needed, fresh view of policy. It is based neither on free market ideology nor on heavy government control, but on seeing the economy as an always evolving complex system that can be guided toward desirable outcomes. An important book that will change how policies are made."--W. Brian Arthur, Santa Fe Institute"Complexity and the Art of Public Policy helps readers understand how politics and business are part of a large sophisticated social system and how the critical issues and transitions of this system can be driven successfully."--Dick Benschop, president-director of Shell Netherlands and former deputy minister of foreign affairs for the Netherlands"We live in an increasingly interconnected world that generates hugely wicked problems--managing this complexity will be the hallmark of good governments. In this book, Colander and Kupers show how complexity is relevant to policymaking and present a rich menu of ideas for governments wanting to function better in today's intricate operating environment. It deserves to be read by all policymakers."--Peter Ho, Centre for Strategic Futures, Singapore"Easily one of the best policy and economics books I've read in a long time. It should be widely read and studied by policymakers, students of public policy, and the informed public alike."--David W. Orr, Oberlin College and the Cleveland Foundation"A blend of common sense, historical knowledge, and the latest developments in complexity theory, this book shows what's wrong with the current policy narrative, and offers an exciting alternative."--Martin Reeves, director of the BCG Strategy Institute"This book describes how economics got us stuck into two competing policy narratives, and how complexity provides a new way forward. Policymakers everywhere should read it."--Andrew Steer, president and CEO of the World Resources Institute"This accessible and well-researched book argues that the world in which our leaders govern has become increasingly complex and interconnected, with the potential for unexpected, harmful events, such as market crashes and political uprisings. Complexity, though, should not be avoided. Properly harnessed, the drivers of complexity can produce constant innovation while maintaining system-level robustness. Achieving those ends requires an understanding of the bottom-up thinking so engagingly presented in this book."--Scott Page, University of Michigan