Title: Determinants of Twitter adoption in local governments: empirical evidence from Italy

Authors: Concetta Metallo; Benedetta Gesuele

Addresses: Department of Sciences and Technology, University of Naples 'Parthenope', Centro Direzionale-Isola C4-80143, Naples, Italy ' Department of Law, Pegaso University, Centro Direzionale-Isola A3-80143, Naples, Italy

Abstract: This study aims to provide an overall picture of the use of Twitter by Italian municipalities and to investigate the determinants of Twitter adoption. We construct a synthetic indicator to measure Twitter usage by local governments. Moreover, we propose a research model to analyse the determinants of Twitter adoption. We use OLS regression modelling on 93 Italian municipalities' data during 2012. Findings show that size, financial autonomy, political position and geographical position seem to predict Twitter usage in the municipalities.

Keywords: Twitter adoption; social media; local government; e-disclosure; municipalities; Italy; Twitter use; OLS regression modelling; electronic disclosure; municipality size; financial autonomy; political position; geographical position.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAUDIT.2016.081979

International Journal of Auditing Technology, 2016 Vol.3 No.2, pp.79 - 94

Received: 19 Jan 2016
Accepted: 13 Jun 2016
Published online: 31 Jan 2017 *

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