ABSTRACT
A country strategy is an essential element for economic success and competitiveness. This part describes the elements of a well-designed national strategy. We start by describing Japan’s Abenomics as a good example, from its formulation to its execution. We then analyze the essential elements of a strategy. The first one is the importance of national consensus as the seed for ideas and reforms that can be accepted by the majority of the population. There are several examples of consensus being built in countries under reform, but the example of Lithuania during the 2008 crisis deserves special attention. The second ingredient is political leadership, which includes generosity, vision, solidarity, exemplarity, effectiveness, and authority. From Maksim Liksutov, head of the Transport Department of the Moscow government, to Winston Churchill and Lee-Kuan Yew, we analyze the leadership traits that make politicians succeed in both democracies and dictatorships. The third ingredient is a consequence of the previous one, and involves the need for a long-term view in policies. This often requires a well-designed political process, as the example of Boston and Mayor Marty Walsh shows. This part also emphasizes the importance of execution in national strategy, and we provide a detailed report of the experience of delivery units in the UK and Malaysia. Finally, we claim that, as strategy should not be delegated, the use of management consultants in public policy is an undesirable trend that has become too frequent in the recent decades.
