The role of protection is the oldest and simplest role assumed by governments, as it protects the security of the individual from any violence to which he may be exposed. Thomas Hobbes' book "Leviathan" describes a world in which there is no government that maintains law and order and protects individuals from each other and external enemies as a world of insecurity. The repercussions of the absence or diminishing role of government are evident in many fragile states of the world and areas outside the control of governments. And, of course, When chaos is exacerbated as a result of wars and unrest.
To play its role in protecting the state, the government needs to impose taxes to fund and train armies and police forces, build courts and prisons, and elect or appoint individuals responsible for drafting and enforcing laws that society must abide by. With regard to external challenges, A protective government must be able to deal with other governments and fight them when needed. This simple picture of government is clearly visible in the early days of the American Republic, which consisted of the president, Congress, the Supreme Court, and the Treasury, War, State and Justice departments.
Next comes the role of the government as a service provider that requires it to provide benefits and services that individuals cannot provide themselves. In this sense, governments are an effective solution to the challenges of collective action and a tool for individuals to deliver public goods that benefit all while facing the challenge of "free users". The basic economic infrastructure for human communication falls under the following category: means of transportation such as roads, bridges and ports of all kinds, Increasingly, virtual mobility such as broadband technologies. All this infrastructure is usually provided by private entrepreneurs who seize opportunities such as building a road and then charging its users. Given the large size of the capital required and the existence of a very clear public interest, the Government ultimately takes over.
There is a broader scope to the concept of government as a provider and provider of services and is the welfare state. Here, the government is supporting individuals and alleviating their inability to support themselves, especially vulnerable groups such as the youth, the elderly, the sick, people of determination and the unemployed due to economic challenges beyond their control. With the development of the welfare state, Its critics began to see it as a protector from the harsh consequences of capitalism or as a means of protecting the rich from the wrath of the dispossessed. At its best, however, A welfare state provides a welfare infrastructure to enable individuals to develop and thrive socially and economically in the same way that competition does. It also gives society social security that enables them to achieve their economic security.
The future of governments is based on these foundations based on the role of protector and provider. Governments will continue to protect their societies from violence and from the challenges and vicissitudes of life. It will also continue to provide them with public goods at the level necessary to ensure a globally competitive economy and a well-functioning society. Same to you The government will be keen to invest in the capabilities of individuals whenever possible to enable them to support themselves under rapidly changing circumstances.
Not surprisingly, this view of the government as an investor stems from a culture of entrepreneurship. Technology journalist Gregory Ferienstein conducted a survey of prominent Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and concluded that they "want the government to invest in the capabilities of individuals. Instead of protecting them from capitalism. "They want the government to fund the education sector, encourage more active citizenship, seek binding international trade alliances and open borders to all migrants." In the words of the president of Alphabet, Eric Schmidt, "The combination of innovation, empowerment and creativity will be the solution for us." This assessment of human capacity contradicts the widespread pessimistic view of governments' ability to address global economic, security, demographic, and environmental challenges. In all cases, Putting this concept into practice and taking the role of investor by the government will require more than just funding schools and opening borders. If the Government is to assume that individuals can meet their own challenges more effectively and efficiently than the Government, They will have to invest not only in enriching their capabilities, It is also in providing the resources and infrastructure that enable them to succeed on a large scale.
There is no doubt that the most important priority that the government should pay attention to within its role as an investor is education. By this we mean continuous education from cradle to grave. The first five years of a child's life are very important as the development of the brain in these years determines the extent to which they are able to learn, understand what they learn and benefit from it throughout their lives. Therefore, The government should invest in the full infrastructure for the development of children from conception to the start of the formal school years. Including child nutrition and health, parenting classes, home visits, and early learning programs suitable for growth and development. In the teenage years, Another stage of brain development requires special family training, counseling and support.
Investing in education will not succeed if it is directed at minds that are unable to receive and absorb the science that is offered to them. Moreover, Throughout their lives, individuals must be provided with valuable opportunities for continuous learning, especially as the nature of jobs changes rapidly and the pace of knowledge acquisition accelerates.
However, Even educated individuals can only achieve their full potential as creative thinkers if they are given the necessary resources. Future foresight specialists and business consultants John Hegel, John Seely Brown and Lang Davison talk in their book "The Power of Pull" that successful companies no longer design a product that meets specific specifications and motivates the customer to use it. Rather, it gives this customer a platform through which he can find what he needs and communicate with the parties necessary to succeed. If the government really wants to invest in the talents of individuals, It will have to provide such a specific "product", Platforms that allow individuals to shop intelligently and efficiently, from health insurance to education opportunities, work permits and potential business partners. These platforms cannot just be a store for a huge number of data, Rather, they must be constantly organized, designed and challenged to give the customer or individual a successful and productive experience.
Finally, The government as an investor must find the right way to counter megaprojects. The natural approach to venture capital projects is to expect nine projects to fail and only one to succeed. Same to you It's different for the government because small initiatives that attract more people and boost their productivity are better than smaller ones. For example, Having small family restaurants in several cities is better than some of the huge chains scattered across the country. By combining all methodologies, Individually established enterprises will be able to weave a network of national economic actors and a significant part of the social safety net. Same to you In this case, the government assumes the task of weaving and coordination between all parties.
A vision in which the government believes in the talents and abilities of its communities and devotes a large percentage of its tax revenues to investing in them and helping them achieve them is intriguing. The government thus avoids the slow and bureaucratic government procedures involved in service delivery activities, Although some active government units are able to compete. This government also recognizes that individuals are faster and more innovative in responding to change and coming up with new solutions. Same to you Government investments must take into account the changing needs of individuals at all stages of their lives and give them platforms to access resources, communicate as needed, and watch an integrated range of public goods form in front of them and emerge from their diverse roles.
This article was written by Annemarie Slaughter, President and CEO of New America, United States
