When voting fails (with Nicholas Gruen)

Dec 24, 2025 1h 35m 8 insights Episode Page ↗
Nicholas Gruen, an economist and entrepreneur, discusses how random sampling (sortition), like citizen juries, can improve governance by addressing conflicts of interest and polarization in "unitary public goods" such as redistricting. He advocates for institutions that foster deliberation over competition.
Actionable Insights

1. Implement Random Sampling in Governance

Advocate for and implement random sampling (sortition) in government, similar to citizen juries, for decisions related to “unitary public goods” like redistricting or overseeing statistical agencies. This approach mitigates conflicts of interest inherent in elected politicians and fosters more impartial, deliberative decision-making, as ordinary citizens are less driven by power and more by fairness.

2. Foster Deliberation Over Competition

Shift political and institutional processes from competitive frameworks to deliberative ones to reduce groupthink and polarization. Encourage participants to identify “red lines” and seek common ground, rather than focusing on winning, to achieve outcomes that satisfy a broader consensus.

3. Adopt “Elections Without Candidates”

For selecting leaders, particularly in high-power roles, move away from open competitions where candidates vie for power. Instead, implement systems like the Catholic Church’s papal conclave or “elections without candidates,” where a deliberative body chooses the best person based on merit, not ambition for power.

4. Seed Alternative Governance Models

Instead of trying to persuade existing political systems, build and operate alternative governance institutions (e.g., citizen assemblies) using private or crowdfunded money. This “retrovirus” approach introduces new institutional logic and demonstrates effective, deliberative democracy, inspiring broader adoption when people witness its success.

5. Embrace Practical Wisdom in Disciplines

Recognize that disciplines like medicine, engineering, and economics are fundamentally about “practical wisdom” (phronesis) – using reality-based knowledge to build a better world, rather than solely pursuing “truth for its own sake” (episteme) like pure science. Orient these fields towards problem-solving through interdisciplinary collaboration and real-world application, rather than just academic metrics.

6. Diversify Academic Merit Metrics

Reform academic promotion systems to move beyond crude metrics like citation counts, which can be gamed. Instead, incorporate methods like peer nominations (elections without candidates) to identify academics admired for their long-term, innovative, or risky work, fostering a more nuanced and genuine meritocracy.

7. Question Scientism’s Dominance

Be wary of scientism, the belief that science is the sole or ultimate path to truth, as it can misdirect efforts, especially in human-centric disciplines. Acknowledge that while science is valuable, it’s a specialized form of knowledge, and other purpose-driven, practical wisdom approaches are crucial for making the world better.

8. Ponder Simple Ideas Deeply

Adopt Charlie Munger’s advice: take a simple idea and take it seriously, dedicating time to deep pondering. This method can uncover fundamental insights that act as a “fulcrum” for transformative change, like developing a “retrovirus” for institutional reform.