Title: Applications of blockchain technology in the Brazilian government

Authors: Alana Bauer Lacerda; Fernando Dias Lopes

Addresses: Business School, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, 90010-460, Brazil ' Business School, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, 90010-460, Brazil

Abstract: Blockchain technology has emerged as a trend that can influence business, government, and society. By validating the exact time an action is taken without the need for an intermediary, the technology has the potential to provide profound modifications in the public service. This paper proposes an exploratory study built from the perspective of institutional logics whose research question is: how are the institutional logics present in the Brazilian public sector responding to the incorporation of blockchain technology? A qualitative approach was used to understand initial perceptions and to learn about the motivations and mechanisms of government initiatives that employ blockchain technology. Our research has found that, despite its disruptive character, the blockchain has entered the Brazilian public service scenario through an already institutionalised structure consisting of a hybrid logic of different approaches to public administration. Changes in this logic will require greater popularisation and regulation of the technology.

Keywords: blockchain; institutional logics; Brazilian government; public administration; blockchain in government; blockchain applications.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEG.2021.116901

International Journal of Electronic Governance, 2021 Vol.13 No.2, pp.132 - 148

Accepted: 29 Jun 2020
Published online: 05 Aug 2021 *

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