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South Korea tops OECD digital government rankings
South Korea has been ranked as the top digital government among 33 countries in a league table released by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The 2019 Digital Government Index (DGI), published last week, draws on survey results from 29 OECD member states and four non-member partner countries to measure the maturity level…
Indian budget aims to tackle slowing growth
The Indian budget, dubbed the “budget for new India,” sets out plans to invest billions in infrastructure and reduce taxes for most business owners, while raising taxes for the super-rich. The Annual Budget 2019-2020 was presented to Parliament by India’s finance minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, on 5 July. Sitharaman, the first woman to hold the key…
NZ Treasury boss rebuked over budget leak
New Zealand’s outgoing Treasury Secretary, Gabriel Makhlouf, was “clumsy” in his handling of a suspected data breach but acted in good faith, a government investigation has found. State services commissioner Peter Hughes announced the findings on Makhlouf’s final day in post as chief executive and secretary to the Treasury. He is leaving for a new…
Hong Kong launches innovation lab
A Smart Government Innovation Lab (Smart LAB) has been launched in Hong Kong, with the aim of supporting tech SMEs and start-ups to develop products that can help improve public services. IT firms will be able to pitch technologies such as big data analytics, blockchain and robotics to the Smart LAB – which is located…
World’s first ‘wellbeing budget’ broadens focus from GDP
The New Zealand government announced details of their much-anticipated ’wellbeing budget’ last week, shifting the focus away from economic growth to include quality of life and public wellbeing. Rather than structuring the budget entirely around GDP and financial issues, the wellbeing budget also measures success against a set of human, social, natural and financial metrics,…
New report calls for New Zealand AI watchdog
A new report has called for the creation of a regulatory body to oversee the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by the New Zealand government. Researchers from the University of Otago who worked on the Law Foundation’s ‘Artificial Intelligence and Law in New Zealand Project’ argue that a watchdog is required to protect the public…
Australia announces new tech-driven agency to improve service delivery
The Australian prime minister has announced the creation of a new agency to improve service delivery and make dealing with government “much easier” through the use of technology. Prime minister Scott Morrison made the surprise announcement late last month, saying: “Today we’ll be establishing a new organisation called Services Australia, built on the Human Services…
Modi’s Indian election win clears way for cryptocurrency ban
The re-election of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi gives his BJP party the parliamentary muscle to push through its agenda – which looks set to include the banning of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, the subject of a draft Bill. The ‘Banning of Cryptocurrencies and Regulation of Official Digital Currencies Bill 2019’ has been circulating inside…
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Empowering Public Servants to Make Confident, Informed Decisions with Data and AI
Governments around the world are working hard to extract – and act upon – the insights held in their vast data stores, and to embrace AI and the promise it holds for innovation and transformation. At the same time, economic pressures and constrained budgets are compelling public servants to do more with fewer resources, while governments are called to respond quickly and effectively to complex challenges.
Against this backdrop, data and AI can help those working in government both to streamline their workflows and make fast, informed decisions. This in turn drives efficiency and can unlock productivity gains – and ultimately lead to improved performance and better services for citizens.
Global Government Forum surveyed over 600 civil servants worldwide to understand how data and AI are being used in government decision-making and where there are further challenges and opportunities.
Read this report for insight into how governments are using data and AI in decision-making today and the potential for the future; the major challenges to using data and AI in decision-making and how to overcome them; and how AI agents can be used in decision-making.
The report includes examples of data and AI in decision-making from countries including the UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada, Singapore, the US, and more.
(Published September 2025)
Making Government Work: Five Pillars of a Modern, Effective Civil Service
Around the world, governments are dealing with substantial challenges – from economic stagnation to the transition to net zero, military conflicts and cyber threats. Governments are also grappling with shifting geopolitics and the rise of populism – and all of these factors are set against the emergence of new technologies, including generative AI, which have the potential to fundamentally transform every aspect of society, but which also pose huge ethical, security and regulatory questions for the public sector.
The Making Government Work: Five pillars of a modern, effective civil service report was undertaken to help identify the key characteristics needed in a modern public service, with priorities ranging across leadership, digital service delivery, workforce development, cross-departmental integration, and citizen trust.
This report has been covered by publications around the world including the Financial Times, BBC Radio 4’s PM programme, Ottawa Citizen, Fed Manager, the Mandarin and the i newspaper.
(Published August 2024)
The Future of the Finance Ministry
From setting tax rates and financial regulations that create the ground rules for national economies, to allocating – and tracking – spending for public services, finance ministries occupy an essential role at the centre of government. Geopolitical crises have reinforced the importance of finance ministries, as they tackle both immediate shocks and long-term trends such as ageing populations, the digital transition, and the impact of moves to net zero.
Against this backdrop, this global research explores what the future finance ministry looks like and how to prepare for it.
Based on interviews with 10 senior leaders from finance ministries – led by John McCarthy, chief economist in Ireland’s Department of Finance, working with Ian Hall, editor, Global Government Finance, and Richard Johnstone, executive editor, Global Government Forum – the study identifies four key themes: the evolving role of the finance ministry in response to uncertainty; the shift to more flexible finance systems that support outcomes; digital transformation and the growth of AI; and the battle for talent and trust.
(Published May 2026)
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