The hottest Public Sector Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top U.S. Politics Topics

How Concerning Are the February Jobs Numbers?

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 22 implied HN points • 13 Mar 26
đź’Ľ Business Public Sector
  1. Slow monthly job gains don’t necessarily mean the labor market is weak — when the economy is at or near full employment and the working‑age population is growing slowly, job growth will naturally be small and more volatile.
  2. The prime‑age employment‑to‑population ratio and other indicators suggest the labor market is near full employment, so current low job creation can be consistent with a tight market rather than a clear downturn.
  3. Some recent job losses (notably in government) can be productivity‑enhancing as workers move to the private sector, while strong growth in health care largely reflects demographic aging and a sectoral rebalancing.

An end to firefighting

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 79 implied HN points • 08 May 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Sector
  1. Regular management practices often assume stability, which makes teams weak when unexpected events happen. Instead of relying on these outdated methods, teams should prepare for unpredictability.
  2. To stop 'firefighting', organizations need to adjust their staffing expectations and allow roles to evolve as needed. This helps teams stay adaptable in changing situations.
  3. It's important to make experimentation a part of policymaking. By training teams to test ideas effectively, they can respond better to new challenges and avoid being stuck in old ways.

Why are "missions" proving so difficult?

Comment is Freed • 65 implied HN points • 04 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Sector
  1. Missions aim to connect different departments to work together towards common goals, but often get stuck in departmental boundaries instead of collaborating.
  2. Successful missions need to be ambitious and focus on long-term outcomes, even when faced with short-term challenges. This helps justify tough choices today for better results in the future.
  3. Missions should involve everyone in society, not just government, meaning real teamwork and shared ownership are important. This can be tough for bureaucracies that like to control but is key to success.

Two different ways to build housing

The New Urban Order • 59 implied HN points • 24 May 23
đź’Ľ Business Public Sector
  1. There are two main approaches to addressing the housing crisis: ADUs and public housing. ADUs are mostly private-sector driven, while public housing is paid for and administered by the public sector.
  2. Both ADUs and public housing are necessary to tackle the housing issue, but there are challenges like costs, time delays, and community opposition for public housing, and concerns about whether ADUs can truly benefit those most in need of affordable housing.
  3. Exploring both ADUs and public housing could provide a more holistic solution to the housing crisis by leveraging the strengths of each approach.
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Sneaky strategies

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 59 implied HN points • 23 Mar 23
đź’Ľ Business Public Sector
  1. It's important for innovation to understand and accept uncertainty, especially in public sector work. When organizations ignore not-knowing, they hinder their ability to create new solutions.
  2. Many critical problems in the public sector are complex and difficult to tackle, so innovation is crucial. However, there are obstacles that make it hard for these organizations to embrace uncertainty.
  3. Using creative, low-key tactics can help public sector organizations overcome barriers to innovation. These 'sneaky strategies' can effectively introduce new ways of thinking about challenges.

Against The Grifters

Marginally Compelling • 13 implied HN points • 15 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Sector
  1. Campaign spending doesn't always guarantee success. Just spending a lot of money doesn't mean you'll win; effectiveness matters more.
  2. Grifters are drawn to campaigns with large budgets. They can take advantage of easy cash flow without caring about the campaign's goals.
  3. The problem isn't just in politics but also in government projects. When spending spirals out of control, it burdens taxpayers without delivering real results.

The State of India's Banking Sector

Turnaround • 59 implied HN points • 04 Jan 21
đź’Ľ Business Public Sector
  1. In 2020, more deposits went to private banks in India than Public Sector Banks for the first time.
  2. The bad loan crisis in Indian banks was tackled through measures like Asset Quality Review and Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code.
  3. Indian public sector banks need to focus on technology and adapt to changing consumer demands to compete with private banks in terms of market share.

#10: Why is there no Government-Built Social Media?

Loeber on Substack • 31 HN points • 05 Jul 23
đź•ą Technology Public Sector
  1. Social media has become politically impactful and is no longer considered just a form of entertainment.
  2. There is a growing need for a reliable government-provided social media platform as private platforms face challenges.
  3. Despite interest and potential feasibility, there is still no government-provided social media platform, sparking questions about its absence.

Julie Timm Weighs In on the Future of the Puget Sound Region.

Exasperated Infrastructures • 7 implied HN points • 21 Jul 23
đź’Ľ Business Public Sector
  1. Julie Timm, CEO of Sound Transit, emphasizes the importance of regional equity and building new services for all riders.
  2. Strong partnerships between different agencies in Seattle improve transit connectivity and service access.
  3. Ensuring fair, living wages for transit workers is vital for maintaining reliable service and increasing ridership.

The Cycles of Bundling and Unbundling to Unleash the Public Sector's Creativity

Bold & Open • 0 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
đź•ą Technology Public Sector
  1. Investing in external consultancies or centralised and proprietary systems weakens the capacity of public agents and citizens, hindering influence over tools.
  2. Investing in open source technologies empowers the public sector to control their tools, collaborate with other actors, and amplify tech capabilities.
  3. To challenge monopolies, investing in new open standards or supporting smaller startups developing open alternatives can foster innovation and competition.