Title: High-level factors affecting availability of online government services worldwide

Authors: Kathleen M. Boyer-Wright, Jeffrey E. Kottemann

Addresses: Perdue School of Business, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland 21801, USA. ' Perdue School of Business, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland 21801, USA

Abstract: The purpose of this research is to develop and test a parsimonious research model of drivers of e-government. Specifically, we investigate individual and business internet use both as direct antecedents of the availability of online government services and as indirect factors mediated by government development of an information and communications technology (ICT) regulatory environment. Beginning with theoretical motivations provided by the New Institutional Economics, we develop and test our research model using data on 122 countries using 2006 data from the World Economic Forum|s (WEF) Global Information Technology Report (GITR). Our findings indicate that business rather than individual internet usage has greater explanatory value as an antecedent to the availability of e-government services, and that the ICT legal environment mediates both relationships.

Keywords: e-government; electronic government; legal environment; internet; business use; individual use; new institutional economics; online government services; government ICT; information technology; communications; ICT regulations.

DOI: 10.1504/EG.2008.019523

Electronic Government, an International Journal, 2008 Vol.5 No.4, pp.375 - 389

Published online: 15 Jul 2008 *

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