State Capacity

In a week-long complexity seminar, we looked at the history of state capacity, current efficacy and challenges of states to meet policy goals, despite steady expansion in size and scope of the state.

We were grounded in theory and history of state capacity, delving into intricacies of state-building and analysis of state development patterns. We looked at impacts of state capacity on economic growth and inequality, and considered tangible impacts of public policy on societal outcomes, including the increasingly important, but too frequently discussed, topic of trust.

I will continue to reflect on the relationship - and tensions - between slow or negative economic growth, and tolerance for change.

Continuing on the theme of trust, we turned to pandemic controls and management for applied analysis, considering the question of state capacity in Canada and in the context of Covid-19.? This provided the opportunity for skill-building in navigating complex, real world governance challenges, understanding emergency preparedness, response and crisis management from a policy perspective, and grappling with tradeoffs and efficacy of policy interventions.

We then considered the future of state capacity, particularly in light of changing technology and implications of artificial intelligence. We considered potential paths, evolving and emerging trends, and exercised skills in foresight and strategic thinking.

(For those interested in AI impacts on state capacity, the work of Sam Hammond is particularly of interest, here, here and elsewhere).