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Built for all: A global framework for building inclusive economies
The pandemic presents the opportunity to build a better future that supports inclusive growth, sustained prosperity, equal participation, and responsible stewardship. It’s been over eighteen months since people around the world first got acquainted with the words “stay at home order” and “social distancing.” Human contact suddenly became dangerous and in the following months, 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…
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…
Spare room superheroes: how finance departments met the pandemic threat
When COVID-19 struck, finance departments around the world sent their staff home – and asked them to put their economies into induced comas. At the Global Government Finance Summit, senior leaders spoke candidly about the challenges of performing radical economic surgery remotely, and considered the first steps to recovery. Matt Ross reports “This crisis was…
Former civil service head to chair new Enterprise Singapore agency
The former head of Singapore’s civil service, Peter Ong Boon Kwee, has been appointed as chairman-designate of a new public agency charged with helping the city-state’s businesses succeed in global markets. Enterprise Singapore is being formed from a merger of the existing agencies SPRING Singapore, which supports start-ups and business development, and International Enterprise, which…
Global Government Summit report; part 2
From France through the UK to the USA, rapid inward migration has been closely linked to the rise of right-wing populism. At this year’s Global Government Summit, top officials from 11 countries examined how two very different nations have worked to bring together their highly diverse societies. Matt Ross presents the second part of our…
Global Government Summit report; part 1
This year’s Global Government Summit attracted top officials from 11 countries for informal, candid discussions on five of the biggest issues facing civil services around the world. Matt Ross presents the first part of our report on the event, covering the introductory session and the challenges of managing today’s skewed, fast-changing global economy Foreword The…
The power of three: the city’s key to ensuring a prosperous future
Cities around the world are growing fast. Between 2016 and 2050, the global urban population is set to increase by about 2.5 billion people. By the time this century reaches its halfway point, two-thirds of the world’s 9 billion people will live in urban areas. As centers for people and economic activity, cities are substantial…
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Discover independent research reports, surveys and in-depth studies from Global Government Forum and knowledge partners, exploring the most important issues facing governments and the public sector. Our research provides practical insights and evidence-based recommendations for senior civil servants, policymakers and public sector leaders. Our reports combine exclusive survey data, expert analysis and interviews with government leaders from around the world to help public sector organisations improve performance, inform policy and deliver better outcomes for citizens.
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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