Jane Fountain, professor of political science and public policy, hosted a dinner on June 7, 2011, in Vienna, Austria at which the World Economic Forum launched its new report, The Future of Government: Lessons Learned from around the World.
Fountain chaired this year’s World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on the Future of Government, which includes 15 innovative experts and leading government practitioners from around the world.
The report documents the best (and worst) governance practices for enhancing global innovation, including those that depend on social media and other new information and communication technologies.
About the report, Fountain states, “As the world moves forward amid economic and political change, the future of government has catapulted to center state as one of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century. On behalf of the Council, I am pleased to present this collection of lessons learned drawn from some of the world’s most interesting and rapidly developing settings, and from a remarkable and seasoned group of experts.”
The report will be used at the World Economic Forum’s Middle East Summit in Jordan this coming fall and throughout the next year as the Council expands its focus and work.
Fountain will move next year into the role of Vice Chair for the Council, and Karl Bildt, former finance minister of Sweden, will take over as Chair. At UMass Amherst, Fountain also directs the National Center for Digital Government and the Science, Technology and Society Initiative.
A press release about the Future of Government Report, which contains links to the report and a video about the Council’s work, is available here.