LEGISLATIVE EFFICIENCY
Key findings
How successfully did governments win legislative approval for their programs?
Legislative efficiency scores are composed of a single quantitative assessment [ 
].
Scores and methodology
]. Scores and methodology
Legislative efficiencyKey findings: Legislative efficiency
Each 
represents an individual country and is positioned on a scale from 1 (lowest) to 10 (best). Position cursor over to see scores for individual countries.
Click country name in list or text for details.
represents an individual country and is positioned on a scale from 1 (lowest) to 10 (best). Position cursor over to see scores for individual countries.Click country name in list or text for details.
Score distribution
10
1
10
10
10
10
9.8
6
9.4
7
9.4
9.0
9
In this top group, governments were very successful in winning passage for their legislative agenda.
In several countries (Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Turkey), every government bill introduced or envisaged in a work plan was adopted. Austria, Finland, Portugal and Greece were nearly as successful.
Austria and Finland have no official work program. In Belgium, government-sponsored bills are virtually the only ones able to win passage.
In several countries (Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Turkey), every government bill introduced or envisaged in a work plan was adopted. Austria, Finland, Portugal and Greece were nearly as successful.
Austria and Finland have no official work program. In Belgium, government-sponsored bills are virtually the only ones able to win passage.
8.7
10
8.5
11
8.4
12
8.4
8.2
14
8.1
15
8.0
16
8.0
8.0
7.5
19
7.3
20
In this middle group, governments were able to win passage for a large part, but not all, of their legislative agendas.
Efficiency was particularly high in Italy, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Japan, France and Ireland. In Italy, some bills remained pending at the end of the review period. France's executive dominance minimizes legislative hurdles.
Governments were somewhat less successful in Spain, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Switzerland.
However, Spain and Slovakia both had minority governments during parts of the review period. Switzerland's legislative efficiency has climbed in recent years, a positive sign for reform prospects.
Efficiency was particularly high in Italy, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Japan, France and Ireland. In Italy, some bills remained pending at the end of the review period. France's executive dominance minimizes legislative hurdles.
Governments were somewhat less successful in Spain, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Switzerland.
However, Spain and Slovakia both had minority governments during parts of the review period. Switzerland's legislative efficiency has climbed in recent years, a positive sign for reform prospects.
6.9
21
6.8
22
6.6
23
6.5
24
6.5
6.1
26
4.1
27
3.9
28
3.9
1.0
30
In this group of countries, governments had relative difficulties in winning success for their legislative proposals.
Governments in Germany, New Zealand, Poland, Iceland, the United Kingdom and the United States all displayed relatively low efficiency.
In Iceland, some legislative refusals were on technical, rather than political grounds, while in Poland, the government lacked a majority for part of the review period.
In the United States, the administration does not introduce bills directly.
Mexico, South Korea, Sweden and Canada all saw very low rates of legislative efficiency by OECD standards.
However, both Canada's governments were in the legislative minority, while Mexico's government does not produce an official work program. Data on Sweden is incomplete.
Governments in Germany, New Zealand, Poland, Iceland, the United Kingdom and the United States all displayed relatively low efficiency.
In Iceland, some legislative refusals were on technical, rather than political grounds, while in Poland, the government lacked a majority for part of the review period.
In the United States, the administration does not introduce bills directly.
Mexico, South Korea, Sweden and Canada all saw very low rates of legislative efficiency by OECD standards.
However, both Canada's governments were in the legislative minority, while Mexico's government does not produce an official work program. Data on Sweden is incomplete.
Rationale
Governments' most sweeping reform programs amount to little without legislative support and approval. This criterion assesses the extent to which the executive and its legislative allies successfully move their proposals through parliament.
If no annual work program with clearly specified timelines for the submission and adoption of bills exists, the analysis has focused rather on a list of government bills reconstructed from other government sources.
In cases of government turnover during the period under review, the assessment refers solely to the incoming government's legislative program.