Economic policy Articles
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Will it be Kamala Harris or Donald Trump? Here’s what each needs to win the US election
As Americans head to the polls, Bruce Wolpe, non-resident senior fellow at the United States Study Centre, University of Sydney, examines the key issues that are at stake in this US presidential election. On election eve in the United States, the presidential race is deadlocked. The polls are exceptionally close across the country and in…
Ireland’s top civil servant made ambassador to UK
The Irish government’s most senior civil servant has been appointed as ambassador to the UK, in a move widely regarded as an attempt to strengthen ties between the two countries amidst the turbulence caused by Brexit. Martin Fraser, who for a decade has served as secretary general in the department of the Taoiseach, Ireland’s prime…
OECD warns of uneven economic recovery from COVID-19, despite global growth
Despite a brighter global economic outlook, the world risks an uneven exit from the COVID-19 pandemic unless vaccines are distributed equitably across the globe, the OECD has warned. On Monday the Paris-based organisation published its latest Economic Outlook report and upgraded its forecasts for growth. Projected global GDP growth for this year was 5.8%, the…
Fields of battle: the trial of strength between India’s farmers and its market reformers
For decades, the Indian government’s in-house economics think tank has played a key role in liberalising swathes of the economy. But in turning its attention to food production, it may have bitten off more than it can chew. Abhimanyu Kumar reports In 2014, at the end of his second term as India’s prime minister, Manmohan…
Panama Takes Action to Drive a Digitally Inclusive Recovery
Today, the Government of Panama has announced that it will join a growing group of nations in taking a strategic approach to digitization, launching a Digital Country Partnership in cooperation with Mastercard. This is a multi-pronged approach that aims to accelerate inclusive economic growth – a strategy key to driving recovery and enabling societies to…
OECD launches new policy framework to support sustainable economic recovery
Countries emerging from pandemic-driven economic crises can steer their economies toward a more sustainable future by focusing policy reform on resilience, facilitating reallocation of resources, and better support for people adapting to change, according to a new report from the OECD. “The pandemic is a painful reminder that the nature of our past growth was…
Pandemic spending failing to build back better so far, report finds
Just 2.5% of all spending – and 18% of long-term economic recovery measures – announced by governments in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic last year is earmarked for green initiatives, according to a new report published by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). The report, Are We Building Back Better?, brought together researchers from the…
Layers upon layers: how financial data paints a picture of the pandemic
Governments have found new sources of real-time financial data that give a clear view of COVID-19’s impact on industries, businesses and workers. At the 2020 Government Finance Summit, top officials from around the world dipped into this treasure trove for economic policymakers and service providers After the 2008 credit crunch, governments spent vast sums on…
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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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