The efficiency of government has a significant bearing on a country’s competitiveness and economic growth. Excessive bureaucracy and regulation, a lack of transparency, and inadequate legal frameworks all impose additional costs on business and impede expansion.

The World Economic Forum’s annual Global Competitiveness Report evaluates the efficiency of 144 of the world’s governments on measures including the wastefulness of government spending, burden of regulation and transparency of policymaking, to produce an overall global ranking.

Qatar emerges as the country with the most efficient government, closely followed by Singapore. Rwanda’s strong showing in seventh position was secured thanks in large part to the low level of waste in government spending.

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

If you’d like to learn more, read Can better regulation boost growth? and 10 ways countries can improve their competitiveness.

To keep up with the Agenda subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Author: Paul Muggeridge is Head of Content at Formative Content.

Image: The feet of visitors are seen from below as they make their way along a translucent walkway at the National Museum of American in Washington. REUTERS.