This report examines the inputs, outputs and outcomes of the public sector in 36 countries (including the EU-28) over the period 1995-2012. We study two sectors - education and health - in some detail, while taking a more general look at the sectors social safety, housing, social security and public administration, and a preliminary look at the sectors economic affairs and infrastructure, environmental protection, and sport, culture and participation. How do countries perform relative to their peers? Has their performance improved or worsened in recent years? Can countries learn from one another in this respect? The final part of the report looks at five sectors simultaneously and aims to identify and illustrate cross-sectoral patterns in the performance of regions and countries.The report is the third edition in this series. The results presented are intended to serve as input for the Dutch Presidency of the European Union in the first half of 2016. The report should be of interest to anyone with a broad interest in the public sector and public policy from an international comparative perspective.