Singapore’s Civil Service Ranked World’s Best in Oxford University Study

Singapore has been named the top-performing civil service globally, according to the inaugural Blavatnik Index of Public Administration, released by the Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford University. The study assessed the public administrations of 120 countries, with Singapore excelling across multiple domains.

Key Highlights

1. Top Rankings
   
   • Singapore secured the No. 1 position, surpassing Norway, Canada, and Denmark.
   • Other notable placements:
     • Norway: 2nd
     • Canada and Denmark: Joint 3rd
     • Finland: 5th
     • United Kingdom and New Zealand: Joint 6th
     • South Korea: Top-ranked Asian country after Singapore, at 15th.
2. Performance Areas
   Singapore excelled in:
   
   • Border services
   • Tax administration
   • Innovation strategies and practices
3. These strengths contributed significantly to its high ranking in the “national delivery” domain of the index.
   
4. Methodology
   
   • The Blavatnik Index evaluated civil services using 82 data points from 17 global sources, including:
     • World Bank’s Doing Business report
     • Transparency International’s Global Corruption Barometer
   • Focused on four domains:
     • Strategy and leadership
     • Public policy
     • National delivery
     • People and processes
   • Avoided broader governance metrics like political freedom and judicial independence, emphasizing administrative effectiveness.

Statements and Reflections

Leo Yip, Head of Singapore Civil Service

• Described the ranking as humbling and credited global collaboration and learning for Singapore’s success.
• Emphasized the importance of continued improvement and learning from best practices worldwide.

Professor Ngaire Woods, Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government

• Called the results a “clarion call” for civil services globally to learn from each other.
• Aims to foster dialogue and data-driven reforms in public administration.

What Makes Singapore Stand Out?

• Efficiency and Innovation:
  Singapore’s civil service is known for adopting forward-thinking policies and leveraging technology to improve public services.
• Focus on Delivery:
  Clear priorities in tax and border services reflect a commitment to operational excellence.
• Collaborative Leadership:
  Cross-government collaboration contributes to streamlined and effective decision-making processes.

Implications of the Study

• Global Benchmarking:
  The Blavatnik Index provides a structured framework for civil services to assess their effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.
• Opportunities for Dialogue:
  Encourages nations to share strategies and foster partnerships to strengthen public administration.
• Singapore’s Role:
  Reinforces Singapore’s position as a leader in civil service innovation, offering lessons to other countries on strategic governance and service delivery.