Event Announcement: A Crisis in Government Performance

The Volcker Alliance

The Volcker Alliance and the American Political Science Association (APSA) today announced an event to be held on Friday, December 11, 2015 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Paul A. Volcker, Chairman of the Volcker Alliance, and New York University Professor Paul C. Light will discuss the schism between vision and action in public policy that has resulted in a crisis of government performance. 

The speakers will draw attention to the urgent need for reform to improve the effectiveness of, and respect for, public officials and call upon political leaders, including the 2016 Presidential candidates, to prioritize this issue.

In 2013, Mr. Volcker founded the nonpartisan Volcker Alliance to address the challenge of effective execution of public policies and to help rebuild public trust in government. Professor Light serves as a Special Advisor to the Chairman at the Alliance.

Professor Light will present his most recent research paper, documenting the growing roster of failures by federal agencies. Steven Rathgeb Smith, Executive Director of APSA, will introduce Professor Light.

The event will feature a question and answer session about the challenges facing the federal government and proposed pathways toward improved execution of public policies, including attention by schools of public policy and management.