Governments everywhere are striving to improve public services, but some are challenged by a rapid rising population, and others by a rapidly ageing population. How should government interact and engage with its citizens to manage expectations? What do citizens actually want? Does democracy and consultation buy you good public services or are there better mechanisms? 

A panel discussion with:

• Dr David Fine, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company
• Hon Leany Barreiro de Sousa Lemos, Secretary of State for Planning, Budget and Management, Brasilia
• Dr Geoff Mulgan, Chief Executive, Nesta
• Ms Swati Ramanathan, Co-Founder, Jana Group
• Mr Calum Miller, Chief Operating Officer, Blavatnik School of Government (Chair)

This discussion is part of the Challenges of Government Conference 2017 at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford.

Politics across the world is in tumult. A new populism has emerged from both left and right. Globalisation is under attack. Across every continent, electorates have lost patience with the establishment elites who have traditionally run countries and international institutions. The ‘left behind’ are stepping forward. This year, the Blavatnik School of Government’s annual Challenges of Government Conference focuses on this revolution: the  breakdown in trust, the reasons behind it, and what an effective response might look like. Those taking part include global leaders and practitioners who are striving daily to address the crisis, as well as leading academics who will set out their latest cutting-edge ideas.