Is shrinking the state enough to fix it? Or do liberals need a better plan altogether?

In this episode of IAF Continued Conversations, hosts Bettina Solinger and Sven Gerst are joined by political economist Mike Munger for a wide-ranging discussion on state capacity, government reform, and the limits of bureaucracy.

From Argentina’s dramatic cuts to Elon Musk’s failed DOGE experiment, they explore why some efforts to reinvent the state spark momentum while others fall flat. But beyond the headlines, the conversation turns to a more fundamental question: What should government actually do?

Drawing on political theory, real-world cases, and personal experience, Munger challenges common assumptions about efficiency, regulation, and the role of the liberal state in the 21st century.

This episode asks tough questions about power, structure, and what it takes to make reforms stick. Whether you’re a policymaker, theorist, or curious listener, this conversation offers new angles on a very old problem.