Policy Paradox

Of those readers who want to learn about the market and the polis (the politics), what are the goals (or what they could/should be), and how we address the problems and then identify solutions, the Policy Paradox by Deborah Stone should be on your list.  Economists, Public Policy leaders, and individuals with political aspirations, this one is up your alley!  Stone is an academic with a strong list of mentors who write the books and have the data.  She focuses on the societal issues (abortion, affirmative action, hunger, unemployment, social security, tax laws, welfare, governmental agencies including NASA and Education Dept.) and the politicians and offers the “yin and the yang” – for each decision we make there is an unintended outcome.  She presents the presumed goals for the marketplace in a community: Equity, Efficiency, Security, and Liberty.  In each case she presents numerous societal issues and challenges.  The next phase of the book is the problems inherent with the goals that she established, which include: Symbols, Numbers, Causes, Interests, and Decisions.  But fear not as Stone then takes the leap to show us some potential solutions in these areas to include: Inducements, Rules, Facts, Rights, and Powers.  In each of the solutions there are ways in which they can and will be manipulated by others.  Stone is brilliant and does a wonderful job of presenting her points with great depth and explicit examples through multiple lenses.  Anyone who wants a great overview of the political challenges facing our economy, our public policies, and our philosophy on responding to the social issues facing our nation, this one is for you.  This is not a sit down in one sitting to get through this book… take your time with it and you will have a lot of late night drink conversation topics with your friends from Washington.