Good governance provides a conducive environment for investment and opportunities for employment, which in turn generate government revenue from taxes. However, promoting good governance has been a long-standing issue in most developing countries, including Papua New Guinea (PNG), according to a NRI discussion paper published today.

The National Research Institute (NRI) Discussion Paper No. 196: “Comparative analysis of governance and economic growth in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu”  authored by PNG NRI Deputy Director for Research Associate Professor Eugene Ezebilo and Research Officer Mr. William Kipongi highlight how to promote good governance in PNG.

Using some governance indicators (political stability, rule of law, control of corruption, and government effectiveness) to assess governance in Fiji, PNG, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu, the authors found the following:

• Vanuatu had the best performance in political stability and rule of law.
• Fiji had the best performance in the control of corruption and government effectiveness.
• An improvement in political stability and rule of law increases real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita or the total value of goods and services produced in a country over a period of time (normally one year) divided by the population and adjusted for inflation.
• Some private businesses appear to be benefiting from corrupt practices in the public sector and the ineffectiveness of government in providing public services.

Good governance in PNG can be enhanced by the following initiatives:

• Provide adequate funding to all economic and political institutions and promote secure and safe communities.
• Strengthen the judiciary and law enforcement agencies to conduct their duties without fear or favour.
• Provide effective governance institutions and tougher penalties against people who engage in corruption practices.
• Improve effectiveness in service delivery and streamline responsibilities of the public sector and private sector.

The findings from the study reported in this Media Release will assist planners, policymakers, and the new PNG Government after the National Elections in making an informed decision on how to promote good governance in the country.

The Publication can be accessed on the PNG NRI website https://www.pngnri.org.