Parsing the impact of E‐government on bureaucratic corruption

Abstract

Prior research has examined the effect of e-government on corruption but has only considered perceived political corruption that differs from the actual corruption that citizens experience in their routine encounters with street-level bureaucrats. This study focuses on petty corruption and delineates the underlying mechanism through which e-government aids in curbing it. We argue that online service delivery reduces corruptibility on both sides-bureaucrats and citizens-by limiting the frequency of their interactions. To test this theoretical expectation, we vary the conditions under which petty corruption occurs. Using data from Latin America and the Caribbean, a region riddled with corruption, we demonstrate that e-government significantly reduces bureaucratic corruption, but only for services where direct contact between citizens and street-level bureaucrats can be avoided.

The Adjusting Influence of Social Media’s User-Generated-Knowledge (SMUGK) in Grasping the Contribution of Cognitive and Technological Factors in Citizens' Perceptions of Satisfaction from E-Government Services in the Global South Context: The Case of Oman

“…However, some citizens may not have the same willingness or capability to access and utilise e-government services. Thus, it is essential to comprehend the elements that sway citizens' demand for e-government from their viewpoint (Kalesnikaite et al, 2023). A helpful way to understand these factors is by utilising the functional e-demand framework presented by (van Dijk, Ebbers & Wijngaert, 2015).…”

Does the Digitalization of Public Services Influence Economic and Financial Crime?

“…The study shows that e-government is an efficient tool on reducing corruption. Also, Kalesnikaite et al (2022) studies the impact that egovernment has on bureaucratic corruption, using data from Latin America and the Carribean, and the potential that it has on curbing it. The results show that it has a significant impact on reducing corruption.…”

Government Management of Information Technology in the Latin American Context

“…(16,17,18,19) Estos elementos no solo son esenciales para mejorar la eficiencia, transparencia y accesibilidad de los servicios gubernamentales, sino que también son cruciales para fomentar la inclusión digital y el desarrollo económico, y para garantizar la seguridad y privacidad en el ámbito digital. (20,21,22) El propósito de esta investigación es explorar cómo los gobiernos de la región están navegando por el panorama digital para transformar los servicios públicos, cerrar la brecha digital y proteger los datos e infraestructuras críticas en un entorno cada vez más susceptible a amenazas cibernéticas. Al ofrecer un análisis detallado de las tendencias regionales, este artículo busca profundizar sobre el estado actual de la gestión de la Tecnología de la Información por los gobiernos en América Latina.…”