Government Responsibility

Abstract

The final chapter summarizes the book’s evidence. Whilst citizens can rightfully be held responsible for the choices they make from the menu of alternatives available to them, it is society, and government in particular, that sets the menu. The nature and distribution of problems in all policy areas is largely the responsibility of government. Government tries to blame citizens for its own regulatory and policy failures through the cult of personal responsibility. This chapter looks at some potential criticisms of the argument. Do we really know what the effects of government regulations are? Are some problems so difficult, or ‘wicked’, that they can never be solved? What does the argument mean for individual freedom and autonomy? Shouldn’t we want government to do less, especially as it often fails? The chapter examines the view that government should not regulate and force people but provide information and nudge them to better behaviour. It asks if that is really less paternalistic or better than regulation. It examines how far the lessons of these policy areas can be extended to other issues and offers a final word on government responsibility.