Patrick McKenzie is joined by Adam Jarvis, author of the Public Service substack and a New Zealand civil engineer and public sector veteran. They discuss how political capital constraints, funding misalignment across government levels, and accumulated regulatory "scar tissue" make infrastructure projects extraordinarily difficult. The conversation reveals why replacing a water pipe now costs more in planning than the entire project did a decade ago, and how talent sorting has drained capacity from public institutions. Despite these challenges, Patrick and Adam find reasons for optimism about reforming government capacity.

Complex Systems now has video episodes as well. Watch this episode and subscribe at: https://www.youtube.com/@patio11podcast
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Full transcript: www.complexsystemspodcast.com/achieving-results-in-the-physical-world-with-adam-jarvis-of-public-service/

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Links:

Public Service Substack: https://alethios.substack.com/

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction to Complex Systems
(01:13) Understanding local government functions
(03:41) Challenges in public sector project delivery
(06:31) Funding complexities in public projects
(09:14) The burden of regulatory and legislative constraints
(17:04) Appreciating the infrastructure we take for granted
(23:02) Historical and modern infrastructure challenges
(30:04) Talent mobility and its impact on public sector
(33:35) Public sector hiring practices
(34:11) Agglomeration effects and brain drain
(36:04) Aging population and resource allocation
(36:59) Structural factors in public sector layoffs
(37:49) Hiring and firing in the public sector
(40:39) Labor mobility and job security
(46:34) AI and automation in public sector jobs
(52:56) Risk aversion and process overload
(01:01:30) Optimism for public sector reform

Achieving results in the physical world, with Adam Jarvis of “Public Service”

Complex Systems with Patrick McKenzie (patio11)