Singapore (Commonwealth Union)_ Singapore has emerged as the world’s best in civil service, according to the inaugural Blavatnik Index of Public Administration, a new study released by Oxford University’s Blavatnik School of Government. The comprehensive report evaluates the public administrations of 120 countries, assessing their performance across four key domains: Strategy and Leadership, Public Policy, National Delivery, and People and Processes. This pioneering study has lauded Singapore for its exceptional performance, ranking first in two crucial domains, National Delivery and Public Policy.
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The city-state’s superior capabilities in these areas helped it secure the top position in the global rankings. Notable achievements include its leadership in border services, where it ranked first globally, and its strong performance in tax administration, securing second place. The Blavatnik Index utilizes 82 metrics derived from 17 credible sources, including the World Bank’s Doing Business report and Transparency International’s Global Corruption Barometer. These indicators measure countries’ public administration efforts on a standardized scale from 0.00 to 1.00, enabling a comparative analysis of different nations. The study focuses on public administration rather than broader governance factors like media freedom or judicial independence.
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The success of Singapore’s civil service reflects its commitment to operational excellence, effective leadership, and innovation. Singapore’s notable performance in border services, where its administration ranks first globally, underscores its focus on efficiency. Additionally, Singapore’s second-place ranking in innovation highlights its continuous pursuit of creative solutions for public service challenges. Accordingly, Leo Yip, Singapore’s Head of Civil Service, expressed his appreciation for the recognition. “We in the Singapore civil service have learned so much from the best practices of counterparts and public services around the world,” Yip remarked. He also emphasized the importance of the Blavatnik Index as a platform for peer learning and public service reform.
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While Singapore took the top spot overall, other countries also demonstrated remarkable strengths in various areas. Norway ranked second in the Index, excelling particularly in People and Processes. Canada and Denmark tied for third, with Denmark receiving the highest score in Strategy and Leadership. Finland rounded out the top five, while the United Kingdom and New Zealand shared the sixth position. These rankings reveal the diverse strengths of different public administrations, fostering opportunities for mutual learning and improvement. Professor Ngaire Woods, Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government, highlighted the significance of the Index in driving public service reform. “We see real value in the Index not only in what the results show but also in the conversations, learning, and improvement that it can prompt,” she said. Furthermore, the study suggests a clear link between high-quality public administration and positive societal outcomes. Early analysis indicates that countries with better public administration performance tend to exhibit stronger human capital and higher GDP per capita, even when controlling for economic development levels. The Blavatnik Index, despite its thorough evaluation, serves as a comparative tool rather than a definitive measure. The study encourages governments to use its findings alongside national data to guide their reform efforts. By spotlighting the best-performing nations, the Index serves as a benchmark for other countries to improve their public services. For Singapore, the top ranking reinforces its status as a global leader in public administration, offering valuable insights for other nations seeking to enhance their civil service systems.
