Expected start date:

2018•01•01

Expected end date:

2020•12•31

Institute:

UNU-EGOV

Project Status:

Closed

Project Type:

Research

Project Manager :

João Martins

This project uses survey data collected by UNDESA or official entities of different countries to study a wide range of topics such as the e-government development, egovernment use determinants and the relationship between government subsidies to the ICT sector, innovation and productivity.

One of the objectives of this project is to study the determinants of e-government development. Another is to research the e-Government use determinants by different agents (i.e. individuals and firms) and in different contexts through the analysis of large survey-based data. As digital divide is a worldwide concern, both in terms of inequality and efficiency, understanding its main sociodemographic sources is crucial to formulate policies to minimize it.

Another objective of this project is to explore the conundrum between R&D, innovation and entrepreneurial activities to foster economic performance. Entrepreneurship, Research and development (R&D) and innovation have been identified as the catalyst in fostering economic growth. They will accelerate a higher rate of economic growth and, at the same time, close the gap between countries’ economic performance in a convergence process (Romer, 1986; Barro 1991). Among other sectors, the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector is believed to act as the engine of growth thanks to its main characteristic as General Purpose Technology (GPT) which means that the spill-over effects brought by the ICT sector will help the rest of economy to evolve. On innovation, Romer, Barro (1991) presents the phenomenon of economic growth by focusing on the disparity between developed and developing countries. That study predicted that there will be a future convergence of economic growth between countries. However, poorer countries can only catch up with the richer countries if the former can reach a higher level of human capital. Thus, technological development and innovation may be necessary as catalysts of economic growth.