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Systematic Thinking for Social Action (H. Rowan Gaither lectures in systems science)

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How can we identify who benefits from government programs at solving social problems and who pays for them? With so many problems, how can we allocate scarce funds to promote the maximum well-being of our citizens?

In this book, originally presented as the third series of H. Rowan Gaither Lectures in Systems Science at the University of California (Berkeley), Alice M. Rivlin examines the contributions that systematic analysis has made to decision making in the government's "social action" programs - education, health, mnpower training, and income maintenance. Drawing on her own experience in government, Mrs. Rivlin indicates where the analysts have been helpful in finding solutions and where - because of inadequate data or methods - they have been no help at all.

Mrs. Rivlin concludes by urging a widespread implementation of social experimentation and accountability by the federal government. The first would test new methods of delivering social services in such a way as to permit valid conclusions about their effectiveness; the second would encourage the adoption of better ways of deliver services by making those who administer programs responsive to their clients. Underlying both is the requirement for comprehensive, reliable performance measures.
--- from book's back cover