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UK chancellor Rishi Sunak must ensure the cut to foreign aid is temporary
Opinion: As the UK retreats from its pledge to spend 0.7% of GDP on overseas aid, the public finance professionals’ body CIPFA is urging ministers to revive the commitment as soon as possible. The organisation’s chief economist Jeffrey Matsu makes the case This week’s Spending Review in the UK was a significant step towards recognising…
Rebuilding public finances: exploring the post-pandemic recovery
As governments invest in keeping their economies ticking over, civil servants are thinking about how to close yawning budget deficits. At a recent webinar, finance leaders considered how best to invest stimulus packages to promote future growth – and avoid past mistakes. Adam Branson reports Governments around the world have collectively already committed US$10 trillion…
Chinese ambassador’s threats a “wake up” call, says former APS chief
Australia’s former Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet secretary Martin Parkinson has backed calls for an international inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus. The retired civil service leader was highly critical of comments by the Chinese ambassador, who said that such an inquiry could lead Chinese nationals and businesses to boycott the country. Chinese…
Rolls-Royce launches COVID-19 data alliance to aid economic recovery
Rolls-Royce has established a data alliance formed of tech companies and data analytics experts that aims to help governments and businesses find new ways to mitigate the impact of coronavirus on the global economy. The alliance, called Emer2gent, is formed of an initial group of seven companies and institutions including IBM, Google Cloud and the…
Former world leaders call for G20 to coordinate corona response
In an open letter to G20 leaders, 92 former presidents and prime ministers have urged coordinated global leadership in the fight against coronavirus. “We are writing to call for immediate internationally coordinated action – within the next few days – to address our deepening global health and economic crises caused by COVID-19,” the letter, published on 6 April,…
From bitter experience: Lord O’Donnell on the next recession
The world economy is in trouble, former UK Cabinet Secretary Gus O’Donnell told the 2019 Global Government Summit, and governments must become more effective – repairing their economies, and reshaping public services around prevention rather than reaction. Matt Ross reports “We’re going to have a global recession,” said Lord O’Donnell. “I’ve no idea when: we’re…
Guarding the public finances: the power of fiscal rules
When politicians are feeling virtuous, they introduce fiscal rules. When they succumb to temptation, they break them – and the public suffers the consequences. Gavin O’Toole explores their power and their pitfalls Italy recently looked set to implement a set of “bad fiscal policies led by populists”, says Grégory Claeys, research fellow at the…
The Recession and Obesity – How One Can Feed The Other
Graham Scott explores the connections between poverty, obesity and recession. The recession which started in 2007 has seen many predictable outcomes. One is that people are finding it harder to buy food. Ironically, at least on the surface, another outcome is an increase in obesity in the Western world. How do these go together and…
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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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