valent of 192,000 junior doctors’ salaries. At the same time, the IMF estimates that adopting digital solutions at the border could increase annual tax collection by up to 2 percent of GDP.
The U.K. can also learn from other countries on practical measures to digitize public services. In Estonia, it takes five minutes to file taxes, and 99 percent of government services are available online. In South Africa, the use of electronic tax declarations, and payments has risen from below 20 percent to close to 100 percent over the past decade.
These opportunities build on the austerity mindset set in train since 2010. Policy-makers have an opportunity to reinvent public service delivery because of the pressures of mounting debt and long-term rising demand. In doing so, they have the chance to sustainably transform outcomes for all.