Blog
The Blunders of Governments
28th December 2013
Most first year Economics students consider government intervention and government failure as key topics in their introductory microeconomics course. Finding compelling examples of state blunders is not that difficult but understanding how the complexity of the government apparatus lies behind failures of project and policy requires digging deeper.
A new book "The Blunders of Our Governments" from esteemed political analysts Ivor Crewe and Anthony King seems to be a perfect enrichment read for teachers and students who want to understand more about government failure.
"There are a handful of cock-ups that we remember all too well, from the poll tax to the Millennium Dome. However, the list is longer than most of us realize and it s growing. With unrivalled political savvy and a keen sense of irony, distinguished political scientists Anthony King and Ivor Crewe open our eyes to the worst government horror stories and explain why the British political system is quite so prone to appalling mistakes."
The book is brilliantly reviewed by Diane Coyle in her economic blog - click here for "Shambles from Mini to Omni"
Geoff Riley
Geoff Riley FRSA has been teaching Economics for over thirty years. He has over twenty years experience as Head of Economics at leading schools. He writes extensively and is a contributor and presenter on CPD conferences in the UK and overseas.