Government decision-making should be pushed downward. Smart growth' strategies to curtail suburban sprawl not only reduce air pollution, but also enable workers to spend more time with family and friends. Since the decline in civic engagement is particularly marked in the younger generation, we need to take more seriously our obligation to educate youth in civic responsibilities. We already know some educational policies that will work. Smaller schools, more extracurricular activities, enlivened civic education and community service requirements have all been shown to encourage broader civic engagement by young people.
Religious communities have great potential to enhance civic life.
Faith-based organisations have a proven ability to reweave the fabric of distressed communities and they deserve support from government and foundations. Finally, we need greater workplace flexibility to allow employees to reconcile the conflicting demands of work, family and community. In a world in which virtually all adults work outside the home, we have drastically 'downsized' the unpaid caring sector of our society. Both mums and dads need flexibility in their work life, so that family and community obligations do not go unmet. Smart firms will adopt flexible policies to attract top talent.