The Missing Link: Identifying Digital Intermediaries in E-Government
Abstract
The digitalization of public administration has advanced significantly on a global scale. Many governments now view digital platforms as essential for improving the delivery of public services and fostering direct communication between citizens and public institutions. However, this view overlooks the role played by digital intermediaries significantly shape the provision of e-government services. Using Chile as a case study, we analyze these intermediaries through a national survey on digitalization, we find five types of intermediaries: family members, peers, political figures, bureaucrats, and community leaders. The first two classes comprise close intermediaries, while the latter three comprise hierarchical intermediaries. Our findings suggest that all these intermediaries are a critical but underexplored element in the digitalization of public administration.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2501.10846,
title = {The Missing Link: Identifying Digital Intermediaries in E-Government},
author = {Sergio Toro-Maureira and Alejandro Olivares and Rocio Saez-Vergara and Sebastian Valenzuela and Macarena Valenzuela and Teresa Correa},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2501.10846},
year = {2025}
}
Comments
29 pages