OCTOBER 20248GOVBUSINESS REVIEWINNOVATING GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACYGovernment innovation is hard work. Structurally, bureaucracies are designed to do the same thing today that they did yesterday. In many cases, this is acceptable. We wouldn't want rules for birth certificates and building codes to change like fast fashion. Culturally, our society has come to expect this, which causes everyone to de-emphasize public sector's role in innovation. Lastly, public finances are generally the same year-over-year. Without rapid growth, we don't see natural opportunities to take on new missions with new resources.These structural, cultural and financial factors are strong headwinds against trying new things. Over time, they result in as lack of dynamism that results in governments falling behind public expectations around goods and services. This chasm is now enormous: compare the stress of applying for a passport to the ease of an Amazon.com return.I am comforted to know this was not always so, especially at The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. We have a history of more than a century of remarkable milestones that included the longest bridge in the world, the tallest buildings Seth Wainer, Program Director of innovation, Planning and Regional Development Department, Port Authority of New York and New JerseyByIN MY OPINIONPort Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton (left) and Seth Wainer (right) speaking at an Innovation Hub event in December 2023. Credit: PANYNJ
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