Better Government Competition

Pioneer Institute’s Better Government Competition, founded in 1991, is an annual citizens’ idea contest that seeks out and rewards the most innovative public policy proposals. The Competition grand prize winner will receive $10,000; four runners-up receive $1,000 each, and other proposals receive special recognition.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to enter the contest. We are in the process of preparing the submissions for the judges, who will meet within the next month to select a winner and runners up. Once the winners have been selected, we will post an official announcement on our website. Thank you.

Read the 2013 contest guidelines here:

2013 Better Government Competition Guidelines

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Read the Guidelines to learn more about entry rules.  The entry deadline was Monday, April 8, 2013 at 4 pm EST.

The 2013 competition sought ideas to facilitate job creation. Our interest is not in how the government can serve as a venture capitalist or pick winners and losers, but rather how to make the Great American Job Engine roar once again. How can we:

• Make it easier for small businesses to grow and succeed. Can we draw lessons from states with high rates of small business growth? Can we lower the hurdles for raising seed capital or the cost to start or grow a venture?

• Make manufacturing more attractive. What federal, state or local actions will make it easier for manufacturing businesses to succeed?

• Bring jobs back to high-unemployment areas. How can we change the employment and business outlook in older, industrialized cities with chronic unemployment and little business activity?

• Get the long-term unemployed and underemployed back into the workforce. Can additional changes to welfare reform improve job prospects for the unemployed and reconnect those no longer in the workforce with jobs?

• Leverage vocational-technical training. Can we draw lessons from successful vocational-technical schools to improve urban vocational-technical school performance? How can we build stronger school-business partnerships?

• Fix broken job training programs. Can local and state government training programs meet job market dynamics more effectively? Is there a role for private sector businesses in improving job training and placement programs?

• Make our community college system more effective. Can we increase completion rates and the workforce relevance and academic quality of their programs?

• Make our state college and university system more effective. What models will increase affordability and improve programmatic quality?

• Increase financial literacy and knowledge of business planning. Can we ensure that high school graduates have a basic understanding of financial and business planning?

• Other Ideas? Ask. If it’s on topic, we’re probably open to it.

Competition winners over the years are listed below.

• • 2012: Coordinated Care Management for Medicare and Medicaid Beneficiaries
    

    2012 Better Government Competition Compendium of Winning Ideas

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  • 2011: A Proposal for State and Local Government Pension Reform
  • 2010: Containing the Cost of Medicaid by Providing Housing for Homeless Individuals
  • 2009: Senior Link
  • 2008: Florida Virtual School
  • 2007: Unified Permitting System for The Redevelopment of Ft. Devens
  • 2006: Short Trial Program for Civil Trial Litigation
  • 2005: Streamlining Massachusetts Government
  • 2004: State and Local Focus
  • 2003: Innovative Ideas on Key Public Policy Issues
  • 2001: Law Enforcement, Education, Housing, Family Preservation
  • 2000: Better Government Competition 10th Anniversary
  • 1999: A Wise and Frugal Government
  • 1998: Streamlining Government
  • 1997: Bringing the Benefits of Competition to State and Local Government
  • 1996: The Fight Against Crime
  • 1995: Local Solutions to Public Problems
  • 1994: Welfare in Massachusetts
  • 1993: Policies and Programs Affecting Children
  • 1992: Environmental Policies and Programs
  • 1991: Restructuring/Privatizing State Operations