Simpler: The Future of Government

The intent of this Amazon review is to describe one layman's apolitical opinion of a book, not to espouse extremist rhetoric. (Unfortunately I have to make this explicit to help those consumers on the fence about a purchase.)This book generally revolves around two topics: an explanation of one particular method for deriving and implementing public policy, and how Sunstein adopted this method in order to fulfill his purpose as a public servant. The former is complicated, and he is mostly successful at trying not to lose his readers. The latter is achieved by weaving personal narrative with examples while remaining candid. Perhaps to the surprise of some, he admits when neither government nor his method are perfect. Those of you who believe citations and evidence lend credence and credibility in an argument will be pleased. 1/3 of the book consists of the bibliography.His method is synonymous with choice architecture, libertarian paternalism, or "framing" a decision, but goes one step further by emphasizing the importance of cost-benefit analysis. Here Sunstein transcends politics by explaining how numbers can be used to drive policy. This should appeal to those of you who believe data, analysis, the scientific method, transparency and accountability all have a place in government. Sunstein's candor especially shines here by admitting caveats. For example, how do you quantify the value of a human life? What is the right amount of information we should be armed with in order to make a decision--there is such a thing as not knowing enough, but can we be bombarded with so much information that we couldn't or wouldn't be able to decide? These difficult questions do become addressed, but those seeking a Goldilocks prescription or magical algorithm to everything may be disappointed.A qualitative portrayal as head of OIRA for the Obama administration prevents Simpler from being just a dry series of studies. Examples are often both enlightening and amusing, with results and conclusions often countering intuition. In fact, Sunstein even takes proper time to explain how our intuition is subject to biases, adopting psychology and economics in simple words. Again, those with a penchant for science will be pleased. Ironically, the only thing the book lacks is a complete, data-laden comparison of the effectiveness of his work versus prior administrations. A few statistics are mentioned, but a table or chart integrated with the prose would help quell any skepticism. Whether this was an architectural decision or simply unfeasible within the scope of publishing remains. Perhaps academics and Sunstein's peers are best left to decide if his methods should truly pave the future of government. At least he has one reader convinced.

You might consider reading Thaler and Sunstein, Nudge, before going through this book. Basically, this is a follow-up that uses Sunstein's experience in government and the policy initiatives that have occurred of the "nudge" form, to lay down some principles of efficient government.Sunstein is a brilliant intellectual and a fine writer who commands a broad range of exptert knowledge, but always presents issues in a lucid, straightforward manner. The book is a pleasure to read, and there are insights on every page.Sunstein tells us that there are three main principles that he has learned. First, the experts that make regulations and laws should use cost-benefit analysis, all the science possible, and deliberate extensively. Special interests should be listened to for advice as how best to do this, but their desires should play no role in decision-making. Second, the public should be presented with simple choices that require no extensive deliberation, but people should have the freedom to reject the "default" choice if they so desire. Third, policy and regulation-makers should listen to the public because people often have ideas and information that the higher-ups do not have, and they many have preferences that decision-makers have not thought of.If only all public servants had Sunstein's intelligence and moral character!

This is not a bad book. The reading is easy, simple, aiming at somewhere in between the man in the street and the modernization of government specialist. I certainly took many interesting views and data from it. Its value as a promoter of simplicity by the government is very important. But the book is not a great book either. I believe the word "future" in the subtitle is somewhat misleading. In my opinion the book is more about the present or even the recent past of government than about the future. Obviously, the word "future" must have added more buyers to the book than it would have the word "past" (a way of experiencing choice architecture), giving it a foundational taste on regulatory matters.It is about present and past because it focuses on what happened while the author was OIRA's administrator and because many of the most important issues he raises have been in the government literature for a long time. For an example, you can check the THE OECD REFERENCE CHECKLIST FOR REGULATORY DECISION-MAKING, from... 1995.Be it past or be it future, the book is not about the government as a whole either. It is only about a tiny portion of its effectiveness. It is neither about its efficiency nor about its role regarding social justice.Another trait to mention is that although it is a reasonably short book, 219 pages, it repeats some concepts along the book too much for my taste.And finally a collateral matter that is fateful enough to deserve mention. On page 162 the author states that the USA went to the Irak war "on the chance that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction." I believe this is a false assertion. USA went to that war based on sheer lies for reasons that had nothing to do with WMD. Secretary of State lied then at the UN Security Council showing fake pictures (pictures=reality) of WMD sites. And the media pushed the idea that Sadam Hussein was responsible for 9-11. Choice architecture works very well also when preparing the ground to take a shocked country into war.

Cass Sunstein has developed a new approach to regulation that centers on providing good information. As head of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs during President Obama's first term, he applied it to proposed new regulations and to a review of existing ones. In effect, he maximized the benefits and minimized the cost to producers and customers of overseeing the wellbeing of Americans.This small profound book speaks simply to everyone.