Simpler: The Future of Government

　　此時此刻，許多政府機構正在進行一場寧靜革命，他們想要轉化成更簡捷、更符合成本以及更注重如何妥善處理事務，而非討好政治人物的組織。四年來，身為美國總統歐巴馬任命為「監管指導」的哈佛法學院教授凱斯．桑思坦亦身處革命的煙硝裡，持續監督政府高效、成功地轉型，提供人民更好的服務效能。在新作《Simpler: The Future of Government》中，他首次現身說法，以行為經濟學做理論基礎，從「推力」（Nudge）闡述並且擘畫政府組織未來可能的發展。

　　桑思坦所參與的美國政府簡化過程，透過謹慎合宜的政策推動，已經在全國省下逾910億元經費，同時援助了眾多人民的生計。有鑑於此，他非常樂於分享自己在歐巴馬行政團隊裡的實務經驗與成果，更希望能將實作心法為天下所用。畢竟人們並不需要一個巨大或迷你的極端政府，而是需要一個能將事情做對的好政府。（文／博客來編譯）

Governments everywhere are undergoing a quiet and profound revolution: they''re getting simpler, more cost-effective, and focused on improved outcomes not politics. For four years one of the leading lights of that revolution, Cass Sunstein, as President Obama''s "Regulatory Czar," oversaw the brilliant and successful effort to give every American better government. In "a remarkably fun, engaging read" (Fortune.com), he explains how, why, and what should come next.

For Americans, the future of government arrived in 2009. Government became simpler, it became smarter. It worked better. Cass Sunstein, America''s "regulatory czar" under President Barack Obama, was at the center of it all. Drawing on state-of-the-art work in behavioral psychology and economics, Sunstein helped save the country more than ＄91 billion and an unknown number of lives. This was accomplished through the extraordinary power of nudges--seemingly modest policies that preserve freedom of choice, better lives, and fundamentally improve government. In combination with cost-benefit analysis, nudges are already saving money, saving lives, and improving, by simplifying, government. In Simpler, Sunstein speaks for the first time about what he encountered and accomplished in the Obama Administration and what the lessons are for everyone going forward.

We don''t need big government or small government; we need better government. Simpler is a "lucid, engaging treatment of behavioral economics that sees a role for the state in nudging humans towards rationality and responsibility. The result is a forthright, compelling vision of technocratic government that''s both efficient and humane" (Publishers Weekly, starred review). And it just may be "the most important book to come out of President Obama''s first term" (Walter Isaacson).