Forum Panel: Can-Do Tech Culture Meets Can’t-Do Government Culture

The contrast between government and our business innovators is profound. Government is broadly viewed as ineffectual, sclerotic, and stuck in the past, while the tech sector is seen as efficient, innovative, and building the future. One is “can’t do,” the other “can do.” This panel of experts, moderated by Philip Howard, will diagnose the key cultural differences, discuss ways in which tech culture can be applied to governance, and spotlight the substantive reforms needed to bridge the gap between these cultures.

AppearancesAndrew ParkOctober 13, 2025Hoover Institution, forum, Technology

Governing for Results, Not Process

The prospect of overhauling government has near-universal appeal. But experts from all sides are dousing the dream with cold water. Changing regulations takes several years. De-regulation will often conflict with statutory mandates. Most of what government does is not controversial—say, Medicare, a standing army, and national parks. Experts such as Brookings' Elaine Kamarck have shown that the impacts of any plausible de-regulation will be at the margin.

NewslettersAndrew ParkNovember 26, 2024DOGE, Hoover Institution

The Human Authority Needed for Good Schools

The litmus test for a good school is its culture—its caring, energy, mutual trust, and commitment to a common mission. Good cultures require teachers to feel ownership of the classroom and principals to enforce standards and values, while red tape and entitlements undermine the authority and human spirit that are essential. Fixing K–12 education requires stripping away bureaucratic and union controls and empowering educators to build good school cultures.