Why Governments Get It Wrong: And How They Can Get It Right

by Dennis C. Grube

We live in an era when we really need governments to get it right - from the Covid-19 pandemic response to how they tackle climate change. Our lives depend on it. Yet, to many, they can seem clueless, and their decisions leave us confused. Why?

In Why Governments Get It Wrong, renowned Cambridge professor and former political speechwriter Dennis C. Grube explores the pitfalls, failures and successes of those in power around the world. Across an array of policy issues we meet politicians who fumble their brief, while others seem on top of it and able to project a sense of calm.

With insight and wit, Grube explains how governments can improve their decision-making. Examining fascinating case studies - from the UK school exam fiasco during the pandemic to gun reform in Australia, and sanitation in India - Grube highlights the key factors that make for effective government. With the stakes higher than ever before, this original and important book is an essential read for any concerned citizen who wants to understand why governments make the wrong decisions and, crucially, what can be done about it.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics

229 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 15, 2022

Reviews

[Filip Eklund · Rating 3 out of 5]

Long story short, I highly enjoyed the examples and taking part in multiple public policy issues all over the world, as I’m confident I probably wouldn’t have learnt about them otherwise. However, the structure of the book is unclear at best, and it is also quite repetitive.

The author bases the entire framework of the book on the idiom “having your ducks in a row”. If you’re unfamiliar with the expression, it pretty much means getting your act together. What he continues to provide is the how, and that is by relying on four “ducks” or notions that he believes will result in keeping public policy successful (or to at least keep track of where others failed in the past).

As with all one-size-fits-all plans ever, this too has its flaws, however, I highly believe that most if not all political reforms could benefit from using a bit of this approach.

[Benjamin · Rating 1 out of 5]

A single theoretical framework for analyzing public policy issues does not a book make and the "four ducks" theory the author rests his hat and everything else on is flimsy. I appreciate the use of numerous examples but invariably the data is contorted to fit the theory and the point is left debatable at best. The theory becomes banal quickly, leaving little to use in interpreting policy debates. I also disagreed with the implicit notion that public policy issues are as granular as the author makes out or can be meaningfully researched using such a decidedly linear framework.

[Thomas Edmund · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't normally appreciate when people approach me in public to comment on my reading but the one-liner "Shouldn't that book be a little longer" gets a pass.

Why Governments Get It Wrong is a relatively straight-forward thesis about what government policy/action needs to succeed. The basic premise is that Government action needs:

- A coherent problem
- A powerful story/narrative about fixing that problem
- To be backed up by facts
- A good plan

Grube selects innumerable examples of successful and failed government actions across a very wide raft of subjects, ranging from referendums in Canada, Covid responses in Aotearoa and Wealth Taxes in Australia.

In general the book is a good read, and there is no doubt about the author's extensive knowledge - however I do feel the overall argument flounders a little.

Banger Quotes like "Without the data and evidence to underpin it, a narrative is just a fairy tale in danger of being mugged by the facts" provide optimism, however throughout the book I felt like misinformation, and undemocratic processes were very large elephants in the room with me reading this book. There is no doubt that Grube provides a good framework for political change, it just feels in modern times a little quaint, even naive even current political climes.

Finally, I felt this book didn't conclude particularly strongly. The examples are the backbone of the story, and it seemed a little like the author didn't really know how to bring it all together or expand the thesis to a broader point, even by the final chapter we are still reading example after example. Again just to be clear, all relevant and interesting examples - but at some point I expected the narrative to zoom out a little - the book just kinda fizzles out. Don't get be wrong, still useful, interesting, well thought out etc, but just.... just that.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first of my "only reading books by people who studied or taught at Cambridge" series, as part of the two-month research exchange here.

I can understand how Prof. Grube's analysis can seem a little to simple, a little too straight forward to some people. But the fact that the policy mishaps he describes happened (and continue to happen today) is indicative of the fact that the problems are not so straightforward to governments. That, though it's a simple idea, they don't have "all their ducks in a row!

So that's why I think it's an interesting analysis, also about how the policy narrative the public receives is often only part of the picture. And how you can spin the evidence in any given situation differently, relevant to your policy goals. Politics is emotional, not rational.

His 4 ducks (that you have to get in a row for policy to be successful) are: Problem definition, data, policy narrative, the solution (lost in its own complexity, often)

Concrete examples: graffiti, US healthcare, voting system, Trump's wall (wipes away all intricacies of the matter with one symbolic solution: the wall), Merkel's time in office, Corona, Brexit, Cameron's LGBTQ+ strides, etc.

[Julie Hudson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this was far too repetitive and would have made a fine article but not enough material for a book. For me the structure of the book wasn't very cohesive and the conclusion of yes, it's tricky being in government and identifying an issue, coming up with the right solution to the issue, delivering the solution and communicating the issue is tricky and is often not managed.

I liked the different examples quoted and analysis of where things may have gone wrong (or more rarely right) but it felt quite laboured in trying to fit into the framework of the book.

[Nicholas Gates · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lacking at least a little bit of the insight and depth I’d hoped for, but I keep coming back to the book’s framing, and there’s a lot of interesting ideas in there that resonate with me. The stories didn’t always sit with me for what I wanted, but I think it’s useful way to think about the topic and I am often drawn back to thinking about it now. Recommended.

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

All the smart people with their diplomas don't get it, but wait for it: Grube gets it, and for a few cents he is ready to show them the ONE TRUE WAY. And somehow that means more expropriation, and more power, and hopefully, some of that will come Grube's way, of course.

[Daniel Bottaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-researched and entertaining book which presents suggestions which are logical. Grube presents his thoughts clearly and bases them on relevant and insightful examples. I believe that what he has to say is important and accurate. This book is meaningful, so I recommend it.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very simple to read but quite repetitive

[Lucy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book put forth a fairly simple argument which could have easily been covered off in an article or single chapter.

[Suntokh · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book overuses the terms 'ducks in a row' to a fantastical degree.

It should have edited out.

[Adi Silverstone · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just not enough information about any one policy.

[Johan Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

DUCKS

[tally wally · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not very informative. Uses ducks as a metaphor way too often.