Think Pieces

Think pieces are short evidence-based papers by named authors relevant to public policy in Jersey. They are either entirely Jersey-specific or build on work done by other think tanks and research organisations, drawing out relevance to Jersey.

Improving education outcomes in Jersey - Rachael Williams

Jersey invests significant resources into education, with both government and parents contributing substantial funds. This think piece explores key factors in ensuring that this investment delivers maximum value. It examines the importance of high attainment, insights from other jurisdictions, the role of data in performance measurement, the necessity of rigorous implementation plans, and access to quality education in isolated areas. Evidence suggests that education is a critical driver of health, economic prosperity, and social well-being. By adopting a structured approach that includes data-driven decision-making, external benchmarking, and effective accountability, Jersey can enhance the impact of its education system.

Restoring trust in Jersey politics - Mark Boleat

Trust in the Jersey Government and the States Assembly is low. But this is also the case in most other jurisdictions. This paper, which draws heavily on international research, explains why politicians are distrusted and discusses special factors in Jersey. It suggests that trust can be improved by improving the consultation process, requiring policy proposals to have impact assessments, reducing the piecemeal approach to policy formulation, publishing Government reports on the Government website in an easily accessible way and publishing comprehensive data, particularly in respect of social security, housing, health and education.

Is political apathy threatening democracy? - Christopher Pich

Voter engagement has been declining across the globe since the beginning of the 1990s and this growing trend has been raising many concerns amongst policymakers, researchers, and elected officials. This paper explores the decline in voting and the impact it has on our democracy and how democratic organisations can re-engage voters.

New approaches needed for taxis and tourism - James Lewis

In 2009, the taxi service Uber was created and in doing so completely revolutionised the taxi industry across the world. Creating a cheaper, faster and smoother taxi experience, the service now exists in almost every part of the world and has come to be an expectation (and even a by-word) that equates to ease and affordability in the taxi industry.In Jersey, this is not the case. Laws that date from the 1930s are still the ones governing how taxis and car hire services are operated, which have created legal restrictions that have prevented a service like Uber from being able to operate on the island.Naturally, the taxi companies have taken advantage of these protectionist laws and have fallen short of a modern consumer’s expectations of a taxi service. Countless anecdotal data speaks of the inconsistent pricing and service delivered.

Let's invent a Channel Islands way - Kevin Keen

Over the years, I have worked with a lot of Guernsey-based businesses and have visited the island many times.It is amazing how islands that are so close can be so different, but they are. Unfortunately, quite a few of us in Jersey like to look down on Guernsey and sometimes Guernsey people can even find themselves looking up to their flashier, richer neighbour.The reality is that the islands are different, but both are beautiful and have their own advantages. They also have a number of problems that are common.Both are tiny, so lack scale. They have a tax system that relies on people working and consuming, but have an ageing demographic, which implies shrinking populations.

Vision CI - realising the potential - Chris Brock

Vision CI is a thought-provoking case study designed to generate positive debate on the potential integration of public services across the Channel Islands and sets out possible next steps options for consideration by all potential stakeholders and interested parties.The concept of a pan-Channel Islands vision was raised at the turn of this decade when Critical Economics produced an outline framework on the subject. Despite the intervening Covid Pandemic, this possible framework only heightened interest in developing such a vision.The impact of common challenges facing both Jersey and Guernsey set against the current escalating backdrop of long-term international and national tensions and events is a daunting scenario. Therefore, it is unlikely that there will ever be a better opportunity to review a pan-CI approach to the provision of many key public service functions.

On-Island higher education - Dr Michael Goldstein

This article comments on the recently published Policy Centre’s paper ‘University education on-Island’, written by Sir Mark Boleat. It identifies that some progress has been made in provision since the work carried out by the author through the former Higher Education Development Group and the Skills Board, but there continues to be a complete absence of Government policy or strategy for higher education (HE).

Principles for tax policy - Mark Boleat

Jersey has seven long-established principles on tax policy. These principles are unarguable, but in practice debates on particular tax measures often focus on a single objective. A better-quality debate on tax policy would be helped by a more detailed analysis of the overall effects of taxes and benefits; an analysis of the effectiveness of alternative ways of assisting low-income households; and tax proposals being accompanied by a statement of the objective, and an analysis of the expected impact on different groups and the cost of implementation, together with an analysis of alternative means of achieving the same objective.

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