financial crisis Articles
NEED MINI SPONSOR LOGO
From the financial crisis to the future of AI: Five minutes with Iceland’s director of economic affairs
In this interview, Tómas Brynjólfsson, deputy permanent secretary and director of economic affairs in Iceland’s Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, discusses his civil service career and learning from international peers. This is part of a ‘Five minutes’ series featuring participants from this week’s Global Government Finance Summit in Dublin (5-6 June). What are you most interested…
Pandemic set to boost productivity, says Bank of England chief economist
Leaving the Bank of England after seven years in the chief economist’s job, Andy Haldane painted an upbeat picture of the economic outlook as the pandemic eases: the UK has avoided serious scarring, he argued, while the shift to digital working should boost productivity. But as Elaine Knutt heard, the picture on Brexit isn’t as…
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…
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…
OECD warns against pivot to austerity
The chief economist of the OECD has urged governments not to rush to cut public spending deficits, setting out a very different position from that taken by the organisation in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. In an interview with the Financial Times, Laurence Boone – who runs the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and…
Learning from our mistakes: the post-COVID recovery
After the financial crisis, a slow and imbalanced recovery fostered a new set of social, health, economic and political problems. At a GGF webinar, expert panellists discussed how policymakers can ensure that – as countries finally emerge from the pandemic – the next recovery addresses these problems rather than exacerbating them. By Catherine Early The…
Five big thoughts on 2020: the year’s best interviews
It’s been a hell of a year – and one presenting huge challenges for civil servants around the world. Our interviews explore how senior leaders have faced those challenges: in this selection of highlights, interviewees present five very different perspectives on governments’ responses to the pandemic Policymakers talk of ‘building back better’ from the COVID-19…
Global resilience has taken a hit – these countries will bear the brunt
The global economy has suffered its biggest shock since the Second World War. When coronavirus hit, we battened down the hatches and it’s driven us into deep recession. As countries begin to emerge, they face a different landscape. Massive stimulus packages rolled out by hard-hit economies have created a seismic shift. They may have softened…
financial crisis Events, Conferences & Summits - In-Person
financial crisis Webinars
financial crisis Research
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)
financial crisis Training Courses
Partnerships
Partner with us to connect with senior government leaders, policymakers, public sector professionals and the organisations shaping the future of AI in public services.
Our partnership opportunities are designed to facilitate meaningful collaboration, knowledge sharing and engagement across the public sector. Whether you are a government department, local authority, public body or industry organisation, we help you share expertise, showcase innovation and contribute to the responsible adoption of AI across public services.
Join the financial crisis Community
Be part of the growing community shaping the future of AI across government and the public sector.
Sign up to receive the latest AI news, research, events, webinars and practical insights from GGF and our partners. You'll be the first to hear about new reports, conferences, networking opportunities and thought leadership from government and industry experts.
Latest News
