Singapore goes from third place to top spot in the Chandler Good Government Index

singapore goes from third place to top spot in the chandler good government index

Singapore has moved from third place to top spot in the Chandler Good Government Index. In second place is Switzerland. Finland, which has topped the index since it was first published in 2021, is in third place. 

This is the third edition of the index. 

Singapore’s top rank is helped by its strong performance in the pillars of leadership and foresight, strong institutions, financial stewardship, attractive marketplace and helping people rise.

The Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI) measures the capabilities and effectiveness of 104 governments around the world based on 35 unique indicators. It is the most comprehensive Index of its kind in the world.

The Chandler Institute of Governance says good government is a deciding factor in whether nations succeed. Effective governments create opportunities for citizens to thrive, building the foundation of national development and prosperity. And good governance leads to better outcomes and increased public trust; high levels of public trust make it easier for governments to do their work.

Singapore gained its independence back in 1965.

Since then, from a small island with limited natural resources and prospects, it has grown to consistently rank globally as one of the safest and most desirable places to live and do business in. Good government is credited as being the not-so-secret of its success.

Good Governments are better able to respond to crises

According to the CGGI report, Singapore’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic was laudable.

Beyond securing a high vaccination rate – which accelerated the opening of its economy – Singapore’s recovery from the pandemic outperformed peer countries and surpassed its pre-crisis levels.

A well-governed country is likely to have developed more resilience to prepare for a polycrisis, and to manage it.

A particular strength of the Singapore government is the almost natural capacity to operate on a whole-of-government basis, and sometimes even on a whole-of-nation basis.

What are some of the biggest challenges facing Singapore?

Former head of civil service, and Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s first Principal Private Secretary Mr Lim Siong Guan said, “In the earlier decades of Singapore’s independence, where the government would like Singapore to get to in, say, 30 years, can by and large be seen somewhere in the world. The dream for the future is a dream of possibilities already achieved somewhere else. The challenge for Singapore then is to choose where we want to go, to learn how to do it and to adapt accordingly. It is the most sensible approach in the passage from Third World to First World.

The challenge for the civil service of Singapore today is to dream the Singapore 30 years from now which we cannot see anywhere in the world today. It is a challenge of imagination and creativity, of learning through doing, and of being able to secure public trust, interest, support and participation all along the way.”

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