Beisian Reasoning

UK Civil Servant. Blog about policymaking and government management. Pseudonymous not anonymous.

[Beisian Reasoning @BeisianReason]

Inaugural blog posts are up. Plenty more ideas in the works, will probably aim for one every 1-2 weeks. Feeling spicy, start here: https://t.co/5x4vpPNZX0
Feeling boring start here: https://t.co/gZfFa4rQID

[Beisian Reasoning @BeisianReason]

@ersatzben Many in the UK desperate to copy a semi-imagined US linear innovation model, whilst the US publishes a paper with a section called "The linear model no longer holds"

[Beisian Reasoning @BeisianReason]

@thomasforth For Oxford and Cambridge to start stagnating implies they are currently growing, but I'm not sure there is much evidence of greater economic growth in those counties? Arguments like Raoul's sound like we are losing some growth by devolution, but that growth isn't happening...

[Beisian Reasoning @BeisianReason]

@anastasiabekt @ersatzben As long as local missions are focused on the comparative advantage point. And not hoping that an innovation mission focused on NEET unemployment or council social care costs is somehow going to lead to industrial revival.

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@thomasforth @FT Many of these may not be observed. The terms of my leasehold say no items at all are allowed on balconies. Everyone flaunts it and the council don't care.

[Beisian Reasoning @BeisianReason]

@surplustakes Fair enough. I confess to not following the details. Seems like nobody involved covered themselves in glory

[Beisian Reasoning @BeisianReason]

@AndrewSabisky Thanks for such a detailed reply

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@AndrewSabisky I agree with much of this analysis. But do you have any ideas about how to grow/create these companies? It strikes me as very hard given any new company would have to compete against incumbents with an eye on acquiring them

[Beisian Reasoning @BeisianReason]

@surplustakes Lady Catherine is very disappointed in you

[Beisian Reasoning @BeisianReason]

@s8mb Agree it's not the prettiest. But the lake area is nice, has lots of sport facilities, hosts lots of local events, has a great cafe. Maybe just a reflection of how good London parks are in general.

[Beisian Reasoning @BeisianReason]

@andrewjb_ @LawrenceLundy @sovereignalbion Yes, agree with all that 👍

[Beisian Reasoning @BeisianReason]

@andrewjb_ @LawrenceLundy @sovereignalbion That's fair, but I still question whether governments focus should be on picking the right companies. E.g. DARPA doesn't back companies, it backs technologies, and funds the companies that allows them to do that. Too many see govt's goal as supporting companies for its own sake

[Beisian Reasoning @BeisianReason]

@andrewjb_ @LawrenceLundy @sovereignalbion Basically there is something to be said for the classic govt invests in public goods and market failures. So you invest in quantum tech to ensure the capabilities are in the UK. The market picks the actual best commercial bets. So for govt 'invest to build the tech' makes sense

[Beisian Reasoning @BeisianReason]

@andrewjb_ @LawrenceLundy @sovereignalbion Good conversation but one point I'm not sure on: government shouldn't invest in themes, only assets or companies. For me this confuses the role of a VC (in the pod, hit 3/20 times) with the government (make the hit rate higher for all investors)

[Beisian Reasoning @BeisianReason]

@andrewjb_ @jo3hill @txp_io Some of it probably thinking about which things can be unbundled, but that in itself is not easy. Unbundling happens in markets because customers choose. Hard to replicate in NHS but possible. Not sure how you'd do it in transport infrastructure or benefits

[Beisian Reasoning @BeisianReason]

@andrewjb_ @jo3hill @txp_io I am warmly inclined to this but more thinking is needed as to how to apply the model to healthcare or benefits which are complex systems because they must do lots of things. AISI is impressive but it has one neatly defined job

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@surplustakes Some stats show huge amounts of US growth are from data centres. Which don't need many employees. Though I wonder where the construction workforce is coming from.

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@Busbecq @surplustakes Yes but there is a difference between an independent inquiry (usually has a fully staffed team) and a parliamentary inquiry (has a tiny staff and mainly involves a handful of interviews)

[Beisian Reasoning @BeisianReason]

@thomasforth Has anyone written up the Northern telling, do you know?