M-Government: An Opportunity for Addressing the Digital Divide

E-Government Data

The key questions of public management research have often sidelined the focus on social consequences of public administration in a democratic society (Kirlin, 1996). Under such circumstances, the emerging study of e-government introduces the risk of a digital divide between the digital ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’. The definition of the digital divide is often associated with the lack of access to technology by certain sections of the public. The digital divide is not only confined to people’s access, but it can also be applicable to the online public service delivery by national governments. There clearly exists a divide among nations, particularly between the developed and developing nations, in terms of e-government functionality and performance. According to a United Nations report, “the network society is creating parallel communications systems: one for those with income, education and literal connections, giving plentiful information at low cost and high speed; the other for those without connections, blocked by high barriers of time, cost and uncertainty and dependent upon outdated information” (United Nations Development Program, 1999, p.63). In this research, we examine the divide in online services and functionality, among large municipalities throughout the world and also attempt to further understand the relationship of this digital divide to other divides - social, political, economic and literacy divides among nations, particularly those between OECD and non-OECD nations.