Countries With the Best Governments in 2019
Governments and institutions play a defining role in their citizens' life experiences. Protecting peace, human rights, and freedoms, and ensuring the well-being and prosperity of everyone equally are the critical expectations for which to hold governments accountable.
By understanding who is more successful and why: we can encourage our leaders to replicate the best practices and avoid preventable mistakes. Using the reputable Prosperity Index, UN Human Development Report, Social Progress Index, and The Economist Democracy Index, we will rank the countries to see which governments are doing the best job across all dimensions.
How is the World Soing in General?
Despite progress against poverty, hunger, and disease, many societies are not working as they should. The quality of governance has declined, and the world saw a steady deterioration in safety and security over the last decade. Across the globe, stagnating institutions are holding back further improvements to global prosperity. Inequality is also a common, increasing concern. Over the last decade, personal freedom has deteriorated in all regions other than Western Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
Top 10 Governments That Protect the Pillars of Democracy
Human rights, peace, and equal participation are the pillar ideals of the democratic society. In the past decade, even the US lost standing as a leading democracy as its government turned its back on the civil liberties. Which governments are the champions of thriving Democracy at the beginning of the new one? Norway, Iceland, Sweden, New Zealand, Denmark, Canada, Ireland, Finland, Australia, and Switzerland are the top ten.
Top 10 Governments That Ensure Freedom
Freedom is impossible to protect if the government holds unlimited power. Some governments that were already authoritarian, like Russia, have increasingly shed the pretense of democratic practice and now openly treat their citizens as tools to their agenda. Which governments remain accountable to their citizens and keep protecting their freedoms? Norway, Sweden, Finland, Netherlands, Canada, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Uruguay, Australia, Ireland, Denmark are the ten freedom leaders.
Top 10 Governments That Ensure Their Citizens Human Development
Human Development means expanding the choices to lead lives that individuals value, and improving the human condition beyond basic needs. It concerns economic factors, but also equality, access to health, education, technology, and ecology. Which governments provide their citizens with meaningful opportunities to control their lives and achieve what they wish for, equally? Norway, Switzerland, Ireland, Germany, Hong Kong, Australia, Iceland, Sweden, Singapore, Netherlands are the leading ten.
Top 10 Governments that Led Their Country to Prosperity
Prosperity index defines access to the sources of wealth and income, and the ability of the country to lift everyone out of poverty. We will select the top ten by the success of the government to impact the prosperity of the citizens by creating a safe and lawful environment for success. Not surprisingly, the top governments are Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Germany, Luxembourg, Iceland.
Who are the Winning Governments Overall?
As we are closing the decade that cost many freedom and prosperity factors to the citizens of the former leaders like the US or UK, the following ten countries continue on their course of stability and success. Their approach and methods are worth exploring in detail if we want to scale this success up worldwide.
Norway
Norway achieved the first place and the perfect score, 100/100, on the Human Freedoms index, not a small achievement, considering that even the US didn't make it into the top 20. Official corruption is very low, and independent media and civil society actors holding the government to account.
Finland
Corruption is not a significant problem, and freedoms of speech, religion, and association are respected. Women and ethnic minority groups are granted equal rights, almost 90% of the population hold skilled jobs, and 100% of the elderly receive sufficient pensions. There is practically no unemployment at all.
Denmark
Meeting all democratic ideals, Denmark is 1st in the overall Prosperity Index rankings. Since 2009, Denmark has retained its position. The country's focus on free social security, equality for all, and freedom of speech is the right one. Many citizens have 3-days weekend, too!
The Netherlands
The Netherlands is a parliamentary democracy. Inequality of income is not a big problem, and almost the entire population has some form of secondary education.
New Zealand
This country is a parliamentary democracy with a long history of free and fair elections. Women are well represented in politics: Ardern is the third woman to serve as the country's prime minister.
Sweden
Sweden is a parliamentary monarchy with free and fair elections and a robust multiparty system. Rights and liberties are respected in practice; the government is open and transparent; the rule of law prevails. Sweden implements consequentialism ethics in its penal system, and the crime level is low.
Switzerland
The political system of Switzerland is characterized by decentralization and direct democracy. The cantons within the Swiss Confederation have significant power to make their own decisions; it's also common to ask the public opinion through referendums.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg ranks as one of the world’s richest countries. It holds a spot among the eurozone’s highest surpluses as a share of GDP. Luxembourg also maintains a position budget-wise and can boast with the lowest level of public debt in the region.
Germany
A member of the European Union (EU), is a representative democracy with a vibrant political culture and civil society. Berlin is known as a multi-national hub of Europe.
Canada
Canada has a strong history of respect for political rights and civil liberties. 100% of the population has access to secondary education, and social security prevents poverty. Life expectancy here is one of the longest in the world, thanks to a reliable healthcare system.
What lesson should we learn? The most prosperous countries, where citizens can afford the highest development, are governed by the institutions that embrace freedom, equality, and high accountability of the officials.
