Daniel Berliner’s research explains why greater public and industry participation does not automatically produce better government decisions. This article examines information overload, four forms of information processing, the limits of AI, and how federal contractors can make agency submissions more specific, actionable, and difficult to overlook.

Public-sector innovations often fail when they miss what citizens actually value. Singler, Guenduez, and Demircioglu (2025) show Swiss citizens fall into four expectation groups, while public servants perceive only three—overlooking trialability, cost, and democratic involvement. Key takeaways for federal contractors delivering digital services.

Explore Bad Public Policy by Howlett, Leong, and Legrand—a powerful critique of policy failures driven by malign intent, non-compliance, and institutional flaws. This essential analysis urges a shift from naïve optimism to vigilant, values-based policy design. A must-read for understanding the risks behind today’s public policy decisions.