<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Understanding and using ICT is critical for increasing effectiveness of the public sector, improving access to public services, enhancing transparency and engagement of various stakeholders in public decision-making processes. At the same time, utilization of new emerging technologies such as cloud computing, big data analytics, open data, social media, or Internet of Things has become more commonplace in recent years. This study aims to understand what determines ICT disparities and digital divides in the context of new technologies and digital world shifts. For this purpose, a theoretical framework of ICT-related indicators elucidating differences between the traditional and new approach is proposed. These ICT indicators were identified through the decomposition of related ICT and e-government indices together with explanatory factors derived from the literature. The European Union Member States were chosen as a sample for the exploratory analysis because of the availability of relevant indicators. More specifically, correlation, factor, regression, and cluster analyses were employed as empirical strategies to carry out this study. The Human Development Index together with research and development expenditure are the most important explanatory factors for the new approach, while the traditional set of indicators is still mostly correlated with the gross domestic product per capita. Finally, five clusters of Member States were identified and their implications for improving the use of ICT in the public sector are described.</p>
</abstract>

Understanding and using ICT is critical for increasing effectiveness of the public sector, improving access to public services, enhancing transparency and engagement of various stakeholders in public decision-making processes. At the same time, utilization of new emerging technologies such as cloud computing, big data analytics, open data, social media, or Internet of Things has become more commonplace in recent years. This study aims to understand what determines ICT disparities and digital divides in the context of new technologies and digital world shifts. For this purpose, a theoretical framework of ICT-related indicators elucidating differences between the traditional and new approach is proposed. These ICT indicators were identified through the decomposition of related ICT and e-government indices together with explanatory factors derived from the literature. The European Union Member States were chosen as a sample for the exploratory analysis because of the availability of relevant indicators. More specifically, correlation, factor, regression, and cluster analyses were employed as empirical strategies to carry out this study. The Human Development Index together with research and development expenditure are the most important explanatory factors for the new approach, while the traditional set of indicators is still mostly correlated with the gross domestic product per capita. Finally, five clusters of Member States were identified and their implications for improving the use of ICT in the public sector are described.

A theoretical framework to evaluate ICT disparities and digital divides: Challenges and implications for e-government development

Review of Economic Perspectives

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Understanding and using ICT is critical for increasing effectiveness of the public sector, improving access to public services, enhancing transparency and...

A theoretical framework to evaluate ICT disparities and digital divides: Challenges and implications for e-government development

Published Online: Mar 17, 2022

Page range: 25 - 51

Received: May 11, 2021

Accepted: Jan 12, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/revecp-2022-0002

Keywords
cluster analysis, digital divide, e-government, European Union, exploratory factor analysis, ICT disparities

© 2022 Martin Lněnička et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

A theoretical framework to evaluate ICT disparities and digital divides: Challenges and implications for e-government development

Published Online: Mar 17, 2022

Page range: 25 - 51

Received: May 11, 2021

Accepted: Jan 12, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/revecp-2022-0002

Keywordscluster analysis, digital divide, e-government, European Union, exploratory factor analysis, ICT disparities

© 2022 Martin Lněnička et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
cluster analysis, digital divide, e-government, European Union, exploratory factor analysis, ICT disparities