"Only a very few governments have opted to use e-government applications for transactional services or networking," the report states, "and even fewer use it to support genuine participation of citizens in politics."
The U.S. government led the ranking of e-government "readiness," the amount of information, services and products it offers over the Internet, combined with the infrastructure - telephones, computers and Internet connections - needed to access them.
In that ranking, Sweden was second, followed by Australia, Denmark, Great Britain, Canada, Norway, Switzerland, Germany and Finland.
In another ranking for "e-participation" - a measure of a government's willingness to interact and dialogue with citizens over the Net - Great Britain beat the United States for the top spot.
While many of the same countries - New Zealand, France, the Netherlands, and Ireland - made the Top 10 in that category, there were some surprises.
Several developing countries, like Chile, Estonia, the Philippines, Mexico and Argentina, ranked among the Top 10 in e-participation. Estonia, for example, has a a site known as "Today I Decide," in which people can propose, amend, and vote on policy issues. Officials are then required to consider those proposals.
Still, only 15 governments in the world accept Internet comment on public policy issues. Only 33 countries allow government transactions, like filing forms or paying fines, over the Net.
At least 60 percent of all e-government projects in developing countries fail, and about half waste taxpayers' money to some extent, the report said.
There are success stories, like Hong Kong's one-stop Electronic Service Delivery, which allows citizens to do everything from paying taxes to renewing a drivers' license on the Web.
Other countries publish bids for government purchasing contracts on the Web, to help fight corruption and kickbacks. While South Korea's OPEN application/complaint portal allows users to see exactly where their case is being handled in the government approval process.
But the report noted that "a too-grandiose approach may result in failures or expensive white elephants."
"Because of a high rate of failure in specific e-government projects in developed as well as developing nations, bricks-and-mortar public services need to be maintained even as digital applications are increasing," the report said.
In many countries, women and the poor have less access to the Internet than other sectors. "Security and privacy issues" also discourage use among all populations, the report noted.
Most Americans who use government Web sites do so to get tourism information, do research for school or work, download government forms or get information on services.
"U.S. users perceive the availability of e-government first and foremost as an opportunity to get quick and easy access to information," the report said.
That, according to the United Nations, is only part of the Web's potential.
"Many governments turn to Internet-based services as a way to cut red tape," said Jose Antonio Ocampo, the U.N. undersecretary-general for economic and social affairs. "But we also see the Internet as a means of advancing and consolidating transparency and democracy."
Quelle: Puerto Rico Wow, 04.11.2003
