Qatar, UAE among top 10 nations with most efficient governments

Qatar has topped the list of nations with the most efficient governments in the world, according to a new findings released by the World Economic Forum.

The data, gathered from its annual Global Competitiveness Report, evaluates the efficiency of 144 of the world’s governments on measures such as the wastefulness of government spending, burden of regulation and transparency of policymaking.

Qatar emerged as the country with the most efficient government, WEF said, but did not elaborate on why the Gulf state received the top spot. Among the other GCC states, the UAE ranked fifth, Oman came 19th and Saudi Arabia was placed 23 followed by Bahrain at 24. Kuwait ranked the lowest at 90.

Globally, Singapore, Finland and Hong Kong were ranked third, fourth and fifth respectively.

New Zealand, Rwanda, Malaysia, Switzerland and Luxembourg rounded off the top 10 countries with the most efficient governments.

At the other end of the scale, Venezuela has the least efficient government, behind Italy and Argentina in second and third places.

“The efficiency of government has a significant bearing on a country’s competitiveness and economic growth,” WEF said.

“Excessive bureaucracy and regulation, a lack of transparency, and inadequate legal frameworks all impose additional costs on business and impede expansion.”

On the overall global competitiveness index, the UAE topped the MENA region moving up to the 12th position due to its successful bid for Expo 2020 and its strong drive toward reforms.

Qatar, at the 16th position, was down three places from last year.

“Although the country benefits from high levels of macroeconomic stability and efficient goods and financial markets, as well as high levels of physical security, it will have to step up its efforts to improve a number of areas in order to achieve a more diversified economy,” the report stated.

Improving educational outcomes, fostering the use of ICTs and further opening the country up to foreign trade will be necessary to increase productivity in non-hydrocarbon sectors, it said.

Qatari businesses would also benefit from reduced administrative barriers and from upgrading the transport infrastructure, WEF added.