"Analyzes government's ability to "promote the general welfare" in the areas of health, transportation, housing, and education. Then examines two tools to improve policy design: information markets and laboratory experiments. Concludes by asking how Congress, the party system, and federalism affect government's ability to solve important social problems"--Provided by publisher.

Papers originally presented at a conference held at the University of Virginia in November 2004.

Government performance : missing opportunities to solve problems / Alan S. Gerber and Eric M. Patashnik -- Policy analysis in representative democracy / David L. Weimer and Aidan R. Vining -- Sham surgery : the problem of inadequate medical evidence / Alan S. Gerber and Eric M. Patashnik -- Urban transportation / Clifford Winston -- Achieving fundamental housing policy reform / Edgar O. Olsen -- Fixing special education / Jay P. Greene -- Decision markets for policy advice / Robin Hanson -- An experimental basis for public policy initiatives / Charles A. Holt, William M. Shobe, and Angela M. Smith -- Can Congress serve the general welfare? / Sarah A. Binder -- Congress as problem solver / David R. Mayhew -- Parties as problem solvers / Morris P. Fiorina -- Taking the Brandeis metaphor seriously : policy experimentation within a federal system / Mark Carl Rom -- The states as a laboratory : legal innovation and state competition for corporate charters / Roberta Romano -- Two perspectives on governmental underperformance / Eugene Bardach.