The role of the psychologist in formulating,administering and evaluating policies associated with economic and social development in western society

The paper (which draws heavily on the results of surveys of civic culture, human resources, and evaluations of educational policy) argues that major changes have come about in the way in which our society is organised. These changes mean that neither the economic market-place nor democracy function in the ways in which they are generally believed to operate. As a result, if modern society is to function effectively, we not only need new concepts of money, equality, democracy, bureaucracy and the role of the citizen, we also need new mechanisms to provide for choice and variety, to evaluate policy, and to hold public servants, managers and institutions accountable for their actions. Psychologists have a crucial role to play in developing the understandings and tools which are needed.