William D. Eggers

United States

Beth McGrath

United States

Mike Canning

United States

Everyone had hoped that by 2022 the pandemic would be over and that nations would be getting back to normal—or at least establishing a new normal. But for many countries, the virus continues to create havoc. The pandemic continues to present unique challenges for governments: a health crisis coupled with massive economic disruption and unprecedented demands for social support.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) put it this way: “The biggest lessons of the crisis are that governments will need to respond to future crises at speed and scale while safeguarding trust and transparency.”1 Even as the pandemic grudgingly recedes, governments have begun the work of building for the future.

Last year, our Government Trends 2021 report focused on how governments were seeking to enhance agility, improve operations, and rebuild trust. Government Trends 2022 continues to build on those themes, but with a strong focus on how governments are striving to become future-ready. The report captures 10 of the most transformative trends in government today, grouped under three themes:

  • Building resilience: Focus on long-term resiliency to future shocks
  • Connected for greater value: Overhaul and integration of structures, systems, and data-sharing to drive greater impact
  • Government for all the people: Making programs and services truly equitable and inclusive

The 2022 report distills extensive research on government, including what’s happening in the trenches. Our collaboration this year with Apolitical brings you voices from the frontlines—public servants who are pioneering these innovative trends.

We published the first Government Trends report three years ago. At the time, we noted the dizzying pace at which our world was being reshaped and the ways in which governments were adapting to these changes. Little did we know that the rate of change would drastically accelerate due to the pandemic. Three years is a relatively short period, and the themes covered in the first two reports are still relevant today. Figure 1 provides a look at all the trends covered in the first three reports, how they are related, and how they have evolved. Some issues, such as digital government, have been a constant theme through the years. Other issues, such as trust in government and ensuring inclusive services, have come to greater prominence more recently. The chart also shows the growing importance of a resilient government.

BY

William D. Eggers

United States

Beth McGrath

United States

Mike Canning

United States

Endnotes

Acknowledgments

Cover image by: Jaime Austin and Sofia Sergi

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