Beyond handouts: The demand for good governance

In recent years, Malta has experienced unprecedented economic growth and a tight labour market. Within this background, the national conversation has been shifting. Maslow’s theory suggests that human needs are arranged in a pyramid. Once the base levels, physiological needs and safety are satisfied, individuals naturally seek higher-level fulfilments like belonging, esteem, and eventually, self-actualisation.

For decades, Maltese political discourse was rooted in the base of this pyramid. Citizens were primarily concerned with securing jobs and stable wages. Today, with the economic problem of unemployment largely non-existent, the population has climbed the hierarchy.

Today’s “needs” are no longer just about having a job; they are about the quality of life. This includes the environment and protecting what remains of our natural heritage, traffic and reclaiming time lost in traffic gridlocks and balancing development with the psychological need for space and aesthetics.

At the very top of this hierarchy sits the need for good governance. In a mature society, citizens realise that quality of life is not a gift from the state, but a result of transparent, ethical and accountable systems. As the economy matures and citizens satisfy their basic needs, their expectations shift toward how power is exercised, how public money is spent, and how decisions are made. Hence the key characteristics of Good Governance – Accountability, Transparency, Rule of Law, Timeliness, Equity, Inclusiveness, Effectiveness – gain more importance in how people judge those elected to govern.

This shift also affects what citizens expect from political parties, prompting them to propose electoral promises that are more focused on sustainable solutions rather than based on “clientelism” or “populism”.

There are those among us who would like us to believe that “corruption scandals don’t win or lose elections”. The argument suggests that as long as people have money in their pockets, they will overlook ethical breaches. While this may have been true in a different era, when the country was still climbing the lower rungs of Maslow’s ladder, I believe the ground is shifting. A greater proportion of Maltese citizens, especially the younger generations, are becoming more “cognitively mobilised”. They are no longer just looking at their bank balance, they are looking at the integrity of the institutions that protect their future.

Good governance is no longer a “luxury” issue for the academic elite. It is a fundamental requirement for a population that has moved beyond the struggle for basic economic survival.

I am proud to form part of the Malta Chamber, that has been a relentless advocate for institutional reform, consistently arguing that a “well-being economy” is impossible without a foundation of good governance. Since the publication of its landmark 2020 Manifesto for Good Governance, which featured over 60 concrete recommendations, the Chamber has moved beyond general criticism to provide technical, actionable blueprints for change. By publishing specialised reports like the Public Procurement Reform Report and the Transparency Framework for MPs, the Chamber has been actively highlighting that for Malta to attract high-value investment and retain its best talent, good governance at all levels is a prerequisite.

As we look towards the future, I believe the message is clear. An increasing section of the Maltese population is prioritising the “upper tiers” of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. They want a country that is not just wealthy, but also fair, beautiful and honest. Political parties that fail to recognise this shift, clinging to the belief that economic handouts can mask the lack of good governance, may find themselves out of step with a nation that is looking up and beyond.