Europe and Central Asia Economic Update, Spring 2021

World Bank

No 35273, World Bank Publications - Reports from The World Bank Group

Abstract: Governments play a critical role in the economies of Europe and Central Asia, where government expenditures are close to 40 percent of gross domestic product and the public sector accounts for nearly 27 percent of total employment, which is almost twice the global average. The public sector often attracts some of the best educated workers in the region. And support for a larger public sector is increasing due to aging populations and their growing health care and long-term care needs, rising inequality and greater support for redistribution, and increasing expenditures as governments address the challenges posed by the COVID-19 crisis. The significant role that government plays underscores the importance of the quality of governance in determining productivity and growth and effectively responding to the region’s economic and social challenges. Digital technology and the data revolution offer the potential to increase efficiency, transparency, responsiveness, and citizen trust, directly impacting the quality of government. Across the world, the quality of government is increasingly informed by the extent to which governments harness digital tools and GovTech to optimize management, service delivery, and overall state capacity. Technology and data are also key for fostering collaboration between governments and civil society to improve public sector efficiency and service delivery. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the costs associated with delaying digitalization and GovTech implementation and the opportunities that lie in public sector modernization.

Keywords: Governance-E-Government Health; Nutrition and Population-Disease Control & Prevention Macroeconomics and Economic Growth-Business Cycles and Stabilization Policies Macroeconomics and Economic Growth-Economic Forecasting Macroeconomics and Economic Growth-Economic Growth Macroeconomics and Economic Growth-Economic Policy; Institutions and Governance Macroeconomics and Economic Growth-Fiscal & Monetary Policy Poverty Reduction-Achieving Shared Growth (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
Note: ISBN 978-1-4648-1698-7
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