Author Insight

Patashnik Discusses How Government Can Promote the General Welfare

Erik Patashnik, coauthor (with Alan Gerber) of Promoting the General Welfare, appeared yesterday on Insight, an hour-long talk show produced by NPR affiliate WRMA.  In the segment entitled "Sham Surgery," Patashnik discussed why some popular surgical procedures are not necessarily backed up by sound science, and what alternative approaches the U.S. government should take in dealing with matters involving science and health care.

Promoting the General Welfare takes on health care, transportation, education, and housing, as examples of areas where the government often fails to promote the common good, despite great possibilities for doing so.  But this innovative book also carries a more hopeful message. By identifying possible solutions to the problems created by weak incentives, poor information, and inadequate institutional capacity, it offers real solutions to improve government performance.

- Listen to "Sham Surgery" on WRMA.

- Learn more about Promoting the General Welfare.