The report, which is the seventh edition of the OECD biannual panorama on public governance, compares member and associate countries of the Organization in areas such as public finances, employment, budgeting, digitisation and public service provision. The data obtained can be used to make a comparative assessment of government performance with regard to public sector reform.

According to the new OECD report, after the COVID-19 pandemic, governments should give priority to developing crisis resilience and restoring public confidence, as the evidence emerging indicates that much more could have been done in advance.

The report also points out that boosting confidence and transparency and strengthening democracy requires governments to redouble efforts in three areas; on the one hand, the fight against misinformation, even with the increased trust in the government generated by the 2020 pandemic, only 51% of the inhabitants of the OECD countries with available data relied on their government. This implies the risk that some people and groups will be disconnected from traditional democratic processes.

Secondly, it is essential to improve the representation and participation of people in a fair and transparent manner. Governments should promote inclusion and diversity, support the representation of young people, women and other underrepresented groups in public life and political consultation.

And thirdly, it is essential to prioritise the strengthening of governance in order to meet global challenges while harnessing the potential of new technologies. In 2018, only half of the OECD countries had a specific government institution to identify new, unforeseen or complex crises. In order to be prepared for the future and to secure the foundations of democracy, governments must be prepared to act swiftly and on a large scale, safeguarding confidence and transparency.

Consultation the report

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