“This is an imaginative and sophisticated treatment of a tremendously important, albeit extremely complicated, collection of topics. Few authors could have carried this off as well as Ascher given his long and varied career as both a distinguished policy scientist and responsible practitioner. Indeed, he virtually draws on almost everything he knows as he classifies, inventories, and assesses dozens of different ways, means, and strategies to promote what he terms ‘far-sightedness.’”

Garry D. Brewer, Yale School of Management

“Why do policy makers often make decisions that are not in their countries’ long-term interests and how can they be encouraged to be more farsighted? These questions are critical for so many aspects of the development agenda and are the subject of this fascinating book. The brilliance of this book is William Ascher’s comprehensive approach—drawing on economics, politics, and psychology—to analyze decision making, provide many useful ideas for expanding time horizons, and improve policy.”

Jennie Litvack, Lead Economist, World Bank

“Bringing in the Future is a lucid, multidisciplinary analysis of how we—our governments and our societies—can overcome the comfort and limitations of a short-term perspective in our policy- and decision making for the benefit of humankind and the planet. This book is based on Professor Ascher’s lifelong experience as a scholar and policy adviser to international organizations and developing nations but its findings have universal value. A must-read for the policy analyst and the world’s aspiring leaders.”

Francis Lethem, Duke University