Governments are bigger than ever. They are even more useless

Yyou can sense that governments are not as competent as they once were. Upon entering the White House in 2021, President Joe Biden promised to revitalize America’s infrastructure. In fact, spending on things like roads and railways has fallen. A flagship plan to expand access to fast broadband for rural Americans hasn’t really helped anyone so far. Britain’s National Health Service is drawing more and more money and delivering worse and worse care. Germany brought its last three nuclear plants under control last year despite uncertain energy supplies. The country’s trains, once a source of national pride, are now always running late.