Influences on e-governance in Africa : a study of economic, political, and infrastructural dynamics

Abstract

E-governance is considered one of the most important factors in delivering and administering public services in modern societies. However, data show that many African countries are currently lagging behind countries in other parts of the world. This manuscript investigates how various factors, including economic prosperity, government effectiveness, and infrastructural support, contribute to the growth and effectiveness of e-governance initiatives in 54 African countries. We specifically analyze the influence of three factors: economic prosperity (measured by GDP per capita), political competence (measured by government effectiveness), and infrastructural or technological support (measured by access to electricity). Panel data covering a 5-year period were retrieved from databases of the United Nations and World Bank, and a multiple linear regression analysis was used to analyze the data. We found that the three factors influenced e-governance to varying degrees. However, while infrastructural support and political competence were statistically significant, economic prosperity was not.