The Fog of Accountability

Episode 024
Written By Chip Chip

The Fog of Accountability asks a deceptively simple question: if local government is the level of government closest to our daily lives, why is it so difficult for voters to know who deserves credit when things go right—or blame when they don't? Justin de Benedictis-Kessner looks at the structures that make local accountability difficult, including weak electoral competition, complicated institutions, limited voter knowledge, and gaps in local media coverage.

Chicago Press

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Field Guide
Justin de Benedictis-Kessner
People, Place Governance, Government, Civic Health, Cities, Harvard
Justin de Benedictis-Kessner
People, Place Governance, Government, Civic Health, Cities, Harvard

Justin de Benedictis-Kessner studies urban politics and the surprisingly difficult question of accountability: when something in a city works—or doesn’t—do residents actually know who is responsible? His work explores how complex institutions, elections, media, and everyday public services shape the relationship between cities and the people they serve.

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People, Place Governance, Government, Civic Health, Cities, Harvard
Antanas Mockus
People, Civic Engagement, Bogata, Columbia, Governance, Government, Mayor, Citi, Global Cities
Antanas Mockus
People, Civic Engagement, Bogata, Columbia, Governance, Government, Mayor, Citi, Global Cities

Antanas Mockus is a mathematician, philosopher, educator, and former mayor of Bogotá who used mimes, humor, symbolism, art, and social experiments to explore a radical idea: that cities can intentionally cultivate how citizens behave toward one another.

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People, Civic Engagement, Bogata, Columbia, Governance, Government, Mayor, Citi, Global Cities
SPUR
San Francisco, Policy, Advocacy, Organization, Civic Engagement, Transportation, Housing, Government
SPUR
San Francisco, Policy, Advocacy, Organization, Civic Engagement, Transportation, Housing, Government

SPUR — the San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association — is a nonprofit public policy organization. We bring people together from across the political spectrum to develop solutions to the big problems cities face. Based in San Francisco, San José, and Oakland, we are recognized as a leading civic planning organization and respected for our independent and holistic approach to urban issues.

A project of SPUR was featured in Episode 3

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San Francisco, Policy, Advocacy, Organization, Civic Engagement, Transportation, Housing, Government
Chip Chip
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