Geoff Mulgan Quotes
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The most dynamic cities have always been immersed in the critical innovations of their time.
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So is civil society prepared for the future? Probably not. Most organisations have to live hand to mouth, juggling short-term funding and perpetual minor crises. Even the bigger ones rarely get much time to stand back and look at the bigger picture. Many are on a treadmill chasing after contracts and new funding.
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There is incredible potential for digital technology in and beyond the classroom, but it is vital to rethink how learning is organised if we are to reap the rewards.
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Courses can, and should, incorporate the excitement and fun of programming games, apps or even real digital devices.
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Big business increasingly likes to portray itself as socially concerned, adopting the style of civic action through 'campaigns' of varying degrees of cynicism.
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L'Oreal's slogan 'because you're worth it' has come to epitomise banal narcissism of early 21st century capitalism; easy indulgence and effortless self-love all available at a flick of the credit card.
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Adelaide is becoming a hub for higher education.
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States which used to communicate directly to their citizens now do so through the media, where their messages are reshaped by the logics of news values and commentary.
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Governments should want and even crave the best possible scientific advice. With reliable knowledge come better decisions, fewer mistakes and more results achieved for each pound spent.
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The most important innovators often don't need any technologies - just imagination and acute sensitivity to people's needs.
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The classic think-tank is supposed to be sitting in an attic thinking up grand ideas.
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A lot of people in government don't really read books at all.
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The idea of entrepreneurship applies as much in politics, religion, society and the arts as it does in business.
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The biggest barrier to dealing with climate change is us: our own attachment to habits that are hard to shift, and our great ability to park or ignore uncomfortable choices.
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Democracy isn't solely about polite conversations in parliaments. It needs to be continually refreshed with raw passions, anger and ideals.
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One effect of an individualistic culture that's poor at instilling mutual respect is that people jump more quickly to anger or violence.
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People don't want charities to usurp the state as the core provider of social services.
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I didn't much like being in Parliament physically. I found it a bit depressing. It's very dark and heavy. I like being out and about.
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As with products on supermarket shelves, the public has a right to know where their financial products and services come from.
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The market turns out to be just one special case of collective decision-making.
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It matters more how governments behave than how big they are.
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As a civil servant in charge of the government's Strategy Unit, I brought in many people from outside government, including academia and science, to work in the unit, dissecting and solving complex problems from GM crops to alcohol, nuclear proliferation to schools reform.
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Deeper fulfilment is rather different from the happiness of seeing a good film or watching your team win at football, and it doesn't come at the push of a button.
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Radicalism is as British as tea and cakes, as much a part of our make-up as monarchy and football. It will never have its own jubilees, palaces or honours system.