Responsive Government Survey Articles
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‘Now everybody feels the stress across the system’: the impact of the era of permacrisis on public servants
It is not a surprise that the phrase ‘permacrisis’ has quickly gained popularity in the lexicon. The turbulence that societies have faced in the early years of the 2020s have been unprecedented – a pandemic leading to lockdowns, followed by an economic crisis sparked by a land war in Europe after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,…
‘There’s a sense parts of the public sector are not working as well as they did’: how can governments become more responsive to citizen needs?
The 2023 Responsive Government Survey reveals that public servants’ confidence in their ability to respond to the changing needs of citizens is lower now than in 2021. What can be done to remedy this? Public servants around the world have become less confident in their governments’ ability to respond to change. This is the stark…
Lessons for leaders: how top public servants can chart a course to more responsive government
GGF research reveals that leaders are more confident in their public service organisation’s performance than other staff. Experts set out how they can share what they know to better deliver The results of the Responsive Government Survey reveal the pressures that public servants around the world face in 2023. The responses from public servants –…
Responsive Government Survey reveals impact of era of permacrisis
Public servants around the world are less confident in their governments’ ability to respond to change than they were in 2021, according to exclusive Global Government Forum research that reveals the impact of the era of ‘permacrisis’ on officials. The second Responsive Government Survey found significant falls in how public servants rate their department or…
From leading public servants through turbulent times to getting the most out of government data: insight from Global Government Forum’s top webinars of 2022
Global Government Forum’s programme of webinars for public and civil servants brings together officials involved in developing policy and delivering public services to share best practice on how to deliver innovative government in the 21st century. Here, we share insights from some of the most popular GGF webinars from 2022, on topics ranging from how…
Innovation in government: lessons from the Netherlands
Innovation is needed in government to streamline processes, improve services, and enhance employee satisfaction. But it is much easier said than done. We take a look at the lessons from the Netherlands – including cultivating an innovation climate and accepting that failure is part of the course – and consider why working with foreign partners…
‘Bursts and explosions of creativity’ and being risk smart: lessons from responsive governments
Coronavirus forced public and civil services around the world to respond at a pace rarely seen to the public health and economic emergency. Panellists at a recent Global Government Forum webinar set out the results of the Responsive Government Survey – and discussed how departments can build on the positive changes that were prompted by…
Boss class: Why are frontline staff more confident in US federal leadership than the top officials themselves?
Global Government Forum and PA Consulting’s Responsive Government Survey examined the views of civil servants from nine countries on how responsive their government was to the changing demands and pressures of modern government. The survey, which received 873 responses, including 133 from senior officials, across nine countries, found that almost three-quarters of participants (72%) agreed…
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Responsive Government Survey 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)
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