SIGMA ministerial conference: roundtable 1

Supporting structural economic reforms through good public governance 

Recent studies show that effective institutions are critical for sound policies to pave the way for economic development. It has been argued that many growth and governance challenges are fundamentally similar. Decision makers and practitioners were brought together to discuss evidence and examples of what kind of public institutions and systems of governance are needed for better economic development in the long term.

Speakers

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Christian Kastrop, Director of the Policy Studies Branch, Economics Department, OECD

Mr. Kastrop has devoted most of his career to different strategic roles within the German Federal Ministry of Finance, working closely with the EU economic policy co-ordination structures on fostering better conditions for economic development.

Katarína Mathernová, Deputy Director General, Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, EC

Ms Mathernová has been working in various roles for the World Bank, for the Government of Slovakia and, more recently, for the European Commission on developing EU regional policy and is now overseeing economic governance and reform in DG NEAR. 

Arben Ahmetaj,  Minister of Finance and Economy, Albania

Vardan Aramyan,Minister of Finance, Armenia

Alain Bifani, Director General, Ministry of Finance, Lebanon 

Nina Vujošević, State Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Montenegro

Moderator

Klas Klaas, Senior Adviser, SIGMA, OECD

Key points 

• Structural reforms are meant for stimulating economic development.

• Most structural reforms require action by the public administration.

• In the long-term, public governance matters for sustainable and inclusive growth.

• Careful planning, co-ordination and consultation are needed.

• Attitudes need to change from rules and compliance to problem solving and achieving better outcomes.