Opportunities and challenges of developing countries toward improving government openness

Opportunities and challenges of developing countries toward improving government openness

This study aims to develop a government openness index (GOI) in developing countries, examine the relationship of variables related to open government, and investigate the relationship between a GOI and income level. Based on a linear scaling method, panel data from 101 countries during 2003-2013 was used to develop a GOI using four variables (e.g. accountability (ACC), information and communication technology (ICT), citizen participation & freedom (CPF), and transparency (TRA). The results demonstrate that while ICT performs highest in global means, the coefficient of variation, and the contribution rate and level on the change of GOI, CPF demonstrates opposite changes to ICT in the contribution rate. The relationship between GOI and income is positive and displays an inverted U-shape. The results of this study suggest that developing countries should improve their capacity to utilize and sustain ICT; in particular, their human capacity for directing ICT toward improved citizen participation.