The linkages between ICT access, e-government and government effectiveness and its effect on corruption
Ibrahim Osman Adam, Muftawu Dzang Alhassan
Abstract
There is growing interest in the linkages between information and communication technologies (ICTs) and corruption generally, especially in the discourse on the role of ICTs in development. However, there is lack of empirical evidence on the linkages between ICT access, e-government, and government effectiveness and its implications on corruption. In this paper, we rely on archival data for 140 countries to explore these relationships. Using partial least squares-structural equation modelling and a hypothesised model grounded in the literature, our analysis of the results reveals a significant relationship between (1) ICT access and e-government development, (2) ICT access and government effectiveness, (3) e-government development and government effectiveness, and finally, (4) government effectiveness and corruption. Furthermore, our results support the mediating role of government effectiveness on the ICT access-corruption linkage as well as e-government-corruption linkage. The implications of findings to research, practice and policy are discussed.