Governments that invest billions in new hardware still find it hard to accept that they might benefit just as much from systematic innovation in such things as child development or cutting crime.

Advisers who think that they are very clever while all around them are a bit thick, and that all the problems of the world would be solved if the thick listened to the clever, are liable to be disappointed.

On the environment and climate change, I suspect that future generations will think there was too much timidity, too much fear of upsetting business. Basically, New Labour was very nervous about regulating business, or requiring it to do anything, even when there was a very clear social or environmental case for doing so.

Learning isn't something you should only do solo.

The longer you commute the less happy you're likely to be.

I can think of nothing worse than a think-tank where everybody agreed.

In Britain, polls show large majorities in favour of mansion taxes and higher taxes on the finance sector.