Future of Public Sector Governance and Digitalization

The scenario “Ad Hoc Governance” sees rapid digitalization in some areas as priority while other areas are left behind because of government budget constraints. The scenario “Nightwatchman State” is concerned about privacy and security concerns of excessive government digitalization while trying to use standardized approach for efficiency gains. The scenario “Entrepreneurial State” is about building up highly digitalized state for entrepreneurial purposes and enhancing digital government platforms globally by relying heavily on public-private collaboration. The scenario “Caretaker State” is about the massive use of digital technologies in preventing the spread of social ills and intervention for benefit of citizens’ well-being. The scenario “Networked Governance” pictures decentralized public sector governance with high degree of use of digital technologies by different actors. As a result digitalization on public sector is diverse and uneven.

Our current understanding may indicate that some of these scenarios are more or less likely depending the specific economic, social and political contexts. However, these scenarios do allow breaking-up linear logic in thinking about future and widening the view of potential futures of governance digitalization. The discussion of scenarios is followed by highlighting key trade offs for policy-makers.

The article is written by Meelis Kitsing, Head of Research at Foresight Center at the Estonian Parliament, Full Professor of Political Economy and Chair of Economics and Finance Department at Estonian Business School.

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