Innovation in West Germany: retrospect and prospects

In: Innovation in the public sector, S. 143-149

Abstract

"Encouraging innovations that can improve governmental effectiveness requires three changes in the Federal Republic's public policymaking process. First, appropriate guiding principles (for example, subsidiarity, targeted action, and the primacy of political over administrative considerations) are needed. Second, a problem-oriented approach must include joint discussions among various levels of government, action based on politically determined agendas, and enhanced governmental capacity to steer political programs. Third, a comparative framework is needed. But for idea-producing institutions to have any positive effects, they must have access to the political leadership, which may require involving the latter in the thought processes entailed in systematic innovation." (author's abstract)