Explore our research
Explore our recent output of research and opinion.
Command and can’t control: an evaluation of centralized accountability in the public sector
High-frequency granular data can enable senior government officials to hold poorly performing members of the service delivery chain to account, however, centralised management must translate large volumes of data into appropriate management actions to be effective.
The effect of inter-municipal cooperation on social assistance programs
Decentralised administration of social assistance programs requires significant organisational capacity. In some circumstances, inter-municipal cooperation can enhance local policy implementation but impact evaluations have focused on public services that are capital-intensive, and on the effect of cooperation on service costs rather than quality.
Efficiency and resilience: How can we adjust the dial?
Following a roundtable to explore finding a better balance between efficiency and resilience, this report summarises the discussions and presents ideas to contribute to the policy discussion on shifting towards prevention and resilience.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it: When (and why) independent service delivery is preferable to collaborative public management
Drawing on a notable case of collaborative failure in England we show that misdiagnosing public service problems as being of a type likely to be cured by joint working also generates poor results, and belongs conceptually prior to many “go-to” explanations of failure.
Foreign policy and promotion of human rights for atrocity prevention
This ELAC policy brief explains the relationship between human rights protection and atrocity prevention, demonstrating that the promotion and protection of human rights in foreign policy engagements is vital to safeguard populations from future atrocities.
Questioning hierarchies: Senior leaders’ views on how global civil services changed during the pandemic
A newly published PeopleGov report finds the pandemic imposed a dual imperative on civil services: the need for greater speed, flexibility, and decentralisation of decision-making on the one hand, and for greater coordination and collaboration on the other.
Addressing challenges to remote and hybrid working in public organisations
The People in Government Lab’s policy report Addressing challenges to remote and hybrid working in public organisations presents the results of a survey conducted in several public organisations in three countries – Brazil, Chile and the United Kingdom. It provides insights into improving remote and hybrid working inside governments.
Tackling online hate speech through content moderation
Despite being a global problem, international legal responses to hate speech have been slow-coming and patchy. One of the core international legal instruments on the matter is the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). This paper builds on the United Nations work to provide more granular and well-calibrated guidance on the application of these provisions to online hate speech.
Red tape and burnout risks in the public service
Although empirical research has consistently confirmed the harmful implications of red tape on public organisations and officials, its impact on employees’ job stress and burnout remains elusive. Our findings expand the understanding of red tape implications in public service, especially in institutional settings different from those traditionally studied.
The Lemann Foundation Programme is a comparative research programme with an emphasis on Brazil, which generates and disseminates knowledge to improve the public sector and its associated institutions.
See how the School is responding to the climate emergency through our research and insight.
The Library of Global Public Goods was set up to share free learning resources that will enrich conversations among educational leaders in Global South countries.
Our research underpins our mission to inspire and support better government and public policy around the world.