Description (short summary): The report presented various roles for e-government in addressing the ongoing world financial and economic crisis. The public trust that is gained through transparency can be further enhanced through the free sharing of government data based on open standards. The ability of e-government to handle speed and complexity can also underpin regulatory reform. While technology is no substitute for good policy, it may give citizens the power to question the actions of regulators and bring systemic issues to the fore. Similarly, e-government can add agility to public service delivery to help governments respond to an expanded set of demands even as revenues fall short.
Since the last edition of the survey, in 2008, governments have made great strides in development of online services, especially in middle-income countries. The costs associated with telecommunication infrastructure and human capital continue to impede e-government development. However, effective strategies and legal frameworks can compensate significantly, even in least developed countries. Those who are able to harness the potential of expanded broadband access in developed regions and mobile cellular networks in developing countries to advance the UN development agenda have much to gain going forward.
Part 1 of the survey breaks into the following chapters: 'Stimulus funds, transparency and public trust' (Chapter 1); 'Roles for e-government in financial regulation and monitoring' (Chapter 2); 'E-service delivery and the MDGs' [Millenium Development Goals] (Chapter 3).
Part 2 features three more chapters, respectively: 'World e-government rankings' (Chapter 4); 'Citizen Empowerment and inclusion' (Chapter 5); 'Measuring e-government' (Chapter 6).
12 European countries (10 EU Members States and 2 EFTA countries) appear among the top 20 countries in the E-Government Development Index. Likewise, 9 EU Member States rank among the 20 world leaders in the E-Participation Index.
Related publication: INT: UN E-Government Survey 2008
Number of pages: 140
ISBN Number: 978-92-1-123183-0
Description of license: © United Nations, 2010 - All rights reserved.
Nature of documentation: Surveys