Design of the Index

Constructing the Index

The CGGI is the most comprehensive index of effective national government in the world. It measures the capabilities and effectiveness of governments in 104 countries.

We have intentionally reached for the broadest global coverage possible — subject to the limitations of available data. The Index is made up of 35 indicators which are organised into seven broad pillars as shown below:

Pillars

Leadership & Foresight
Leadership & Foresight
Ethical Leadership
Long-term Vision
Adaptability
Strategic Prioritisation
Innovation
Robust Laws & Policies
Robust Laws & Policies
Rule of Law
Quality of Judiciary
Transparency
Regulatory Governance
Strong Institutions
Strong Institutions
Coordination
Data Capability
Implementation
Quality of Bureaucracy
Financial Stewardship
Financial Stewardship
Government Debt
Country Budget Surplus
Spending Efficiency
Country Risk Premium
Attractive Marketplace
Attractive Marketplace
Property Rights
Macroeconomic Environment
Attracting Investments
Logistics Competence
Stable Business Regulations
Global Influence & Reputation
Global Influence & Reputation
International Trade
International Diplomacy
Nation Brand
Passport Strength
Helping People Rise
Helping People Rise
Education
Health
Satisfaction with Public Services
Personal Safety
Environmental Performance
Income Distribution
Social Mobility
Gender Gap
Non-Discrimination

The first six pillars focus on six dimensions of government capabilities. Each of these six pillars and its results are featured in depth in the CGGI Report. The final pillar measures a range of key outcomes of good government that help create opportunity and prosperity, helping people to rise. Ultimately, good capabilities must translate into achieving outcomes that are valued by people and businesses. Each indicator has a quality or component that governments can take concrete steps in, to strengthen performance.

The Index uses more than 50 publicly available global data sources, the full list of which can be found in the Technical Annex. Since data sources come in a variety of formats, the data from each source is normalised, given equal weight, and aggregated to produce the final CGGI score on a scale of 0 (lowest score) to 1 (highest score).

Description of Indicators for CGGI

Leadership and Foresight

Ethical Leadership: The control and prevention of the abuse of public power for private benefit

Long-Term Vision: The ability to develop and express the desired goals and destination for the nation over a longer period of time

Adaptability: Responding to various trends and changes with appropriate strategies, policies and actions

Strategic Prioritisation: Developing longer-term plans and decision-making frameworks that focus on important goals and outcomes

Innovation: The capacity for learning, and the generation, adaptation and application of ideas

Robust Laws and Policies

Rule of Law: Whether laws are just and impartial, whether governments observe due process and are accountable to the laws, and whether justice is accessible to all

Quality of Judiciary: Whether courts of law are efficient and independent from external influence

Transparency: The public availability and accessibility of government information

Regulatory Governance: The ability of governments to establish clear and representative policies and regulations

Strong Institutions

Coordination: The ability to balance interests and objectives, and to ensure that multiple government agencies act coherently and in a collaborative manner

Data Capability: The ability to gather and use data, and to provide quality digital and online services

Effective Implementation: The degree to which a government can execute its own policies and meet its policy objectives

Quality of Bureaucracy: The capability and performance of the civil service, regardless of political and policy changes

Financial Stewardship

Government Debt: The debt dynamics and risk of a country, based on its debt-to-GDP levels, changes in debt, country credit ratings, and stage of economic development

Country Budget Surplus: A government’s average revenue and expenditure position, based on its fiscal balance, over a 5-year period

Spending Efficiency: The extent to which public spending translates into outcomes and services with minimal wastage

Country Risk Premium: The risk of investing in a country due to its sovereign debt repayment ability and economic governance

Attractive Marketplace

Property Rights: The extent to which the legal rights to own and use physical and intellectual property are established and protected

Macroeconomic Environment: The maintenance of inflation and unemployment levels within optimal ranges, given the economic situation and needs

Attracting Investments: The ability to attract foreign domestic investment (FDI)

Logistics Competence: The quality of logistics infrastructure and systems within a country

Stable Business Regulations: The stability of policies and regulations concerning business activities

Global Influence and Reputation

International Trade: The freedom, access and capabilities to buy and sell goods and services beyond national borders

International Diplomacy: The extent of a nation’s diplomatic representation and presence abroad

Nation Brand: The coherence of a country’s national tourism promotion, and its image and appeal to a variety of non-commercial stakeholders

Passport Strength: The credibility of a nation’s passport, as measured by the number of visa-free arrangements that passport holders enjoy globally

Helping People Rise

Education: The literacy rate and years of schooling of the population

Health: How long a newborn child can expect to live, given current health and mortality expectations

Satisfaction with Public Services: Satisfaction with public transport, infrastructure and education

Personal Safety: The state’s ability to protect its people from violent crime

Environmental Performance: The safety and sustainability of a nation’s ecosystems and environment

Income Distribution: The dispersion of individual incomes within a population

Social Mobility: The extent to which socio-economic circumstances at birth influence a person’s future status and prosperity

Gender Gap: The extent to which both women and men can participate in, and benefit from, educational and economic opportunities

Non-Discrimination: Freedom from discrimination, regardless of a person’s socio-economic status, ethnicity, gender, identity or faith