Governments can enhance public trust by fostering meaningful citizen engagement, improving efficiency, and ensuring access to public services, as highlighted in the OECD’s latest report, “Government at a Glance 2025.” This report underscores the increasing fiscal pressures facing OECD nations, with public debt projected to reach 112% of GDP in 2024, a significant rise from 73% in 2007. Amid these challenges, public trust is alarmingly low, with only 39% of people expressing confidence in their national governments. OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann emphasizes the necessity for governments to build citizens’ trust while addressing both immediate fiscal issues and long-term structural changes.
The report provides evidence-based recommendations aimed at delivering efficient public services that align with citizen expectations. It highlights three crucial areas for governments to improve public trust and contribute to societal prosperity. First, enhancing citizens’ dignity in interactions with government through meaningful public engagement is essential. Notably, only 30% of individuals feel they can influence government decisions, indicating a significant opportunity for better stakeholder involvement.
Deliberative democratic practices, such as citizens’ assemblies and public dialogues, have been increasingly adopted, with 148 such processes occurring between 2021 and 2023 alone. Second, governments need to adapt to rapidly evolving social and economic landscapes. Economic concerns dominate public sentiment, with inflation, poverty, and unemployment topping the list. Investment in education and training is vital to ensure that young people can engage fully in economic opportunities.
Lastly, access to justice must be prioritized to enhance citizens’ feelings of security. Governments are called to expand affordable and independent justice systems. The report also advocates for leveraging technology and data to increase government efficiency. Currently, data availability remains limited, with only 47% of high-value datasets accessible as open data.
The findings also emphasize the potential benefits of utilizing budgeting tools to optimize resources and avoid excessive debt. Simplifying regulations for individuals and businesses can further support these improvements, illustrated by the OECD’s Simplifying for Success initiative. Importantly, the report discusses the challenges of governing for the green transition, stressing the importance of environmental policy coordination and clarifying frameworks to achieve climate goals. This overarching approach aims to facilitate a successful green transition by assessing environmental impacts and aligning with sustainability objectives.