Acting in Time

A staggering number of consequential public problems are rapidly approaching crisis stage, taxing the capacities of governments, communities and nations, which seem at once unable to meet the challenges head-on. What is causing this systematic and widespread paralysis that precludes our venerable institutions from acting in time to implement effective and responsible solutions?

The Acting in Time initiative is designed to harness the capabilities of Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard University with the goal of understanding the reasons that particular problems are not being addressed and to help foster ideas to help move solutions forward. The hope and expectation is that by bringing together scholars of different backgrounds along with practitioners, we will be able to learn more about the qualities of analysis, governance, policy design, democratic institutional structure, information, political mobilization, and leadership that can lead to effective and timely action.

The Initiative has spawned a first round of four projects, focusing on real-time response to large-scale natural disasters; the structural challenges presented by distant risks, like global warming; efforts to end pandemics that threaten public health in developing countries; and the looming crisis in long-term health care.

The Harvard Kennedy School's 2007 Spring Conference, held May 4-5 in Cambridge, was dedicated to discussions and research surrounding the theme of Acting in Time.

For Press Inquiries on the Acting in Time research initiative contact:

Doug Gavel
Media Relations Manager
Harvard Kennedy School

617-495-1115
doug_gavel@harvard.edu