E-Government and Its Impact on E-Commerce in LDCs

E-Government and Its Impact on E-Commerce in LDCs

Abdelbaset Rabaiah (Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Belgium)
Copyright: © 2009 |Pages: 26
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-60566-100-1.ch008

Abstract

This chapter illustrates the impact of electronic government (e-government) on electronic commerce (e-commerce) development and implementation in the Less Developed Countries (LDCs). It introduces e-government from a business point of view. We try to assess the capacity of e-government as an enabler to e-commerce. Furthermore, since e-government is about enhancing efficiency and transparency of government operation; we shall explore new perspectives on how and where e-commerce can avail from this shift in government operation paradigm. There are new opportunities for LDCs in particular to utilise new IT offerings to achieve growth, efficiency, and cost reduction. We will discuss some of these towards the end of the chapter. In the process, we will try to draw the connection between e-government and e-commerce in such a way that helps decision makers understand the potential of e-government for a better implementation of e-commerce.
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Previous Studies

Most hitherto research efforts were carried out by scholars who looked at electronic government (e-government) from government perspective. Many research papers were published by scholars involved already in government projects. There has been some serious research in on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) (e.g. Wood-Harper et al, 2004). These papers served largely to stress the importance of PPP as well as to suggest new theories on how to enhance this relationship. Some other research effort on the other hand focused on challenges faced by LDCs in the process of establishing e-government (e.g. Heeks, 2002, Ndou, 2004…etc.)

While most research is single case-based (e.g. Zukauskas & Kasteckiene, 2002) this chapter tries to fill the void by looking globally at how e-government and Electronic Commerce (e-commerce) can prop up one another. In the course of this study, we will introduce e-government from a new perspective and explain how its establishment can really achieve development through the encouragement of investment and the support it provides for the private sector. It is the first attempt to scrutinise the impact of e-government on e-commerce and development in LDCs.

This chapter is more than just exploring the relationship between e-government and e-commerce. It serves as an augmented guide to e-government. It introduces some new ideas for enhancing e-government. LDCs environment is kept in mind while writing the chapter. Whenever possible, reference is made in relation to opportunities and challenges attributed for LDCs.

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