Mapping Territorial Disparities in Artificial Intelligence Adoption Across Local Public Administrations: Multilevel Evidence from Germany

Loredana Maria Clim (Moga) (), Mariana Man and Ionica Oncioiu
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Loredana Maria Clim (Moga): Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, “Eugeniu Carada” Doctoral School of Economic Sciences, University of Craiova, 200585 Craiova, Romania
Mariana Man: Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, “Eugeniu Carada” Doctoral School of Economic Sciences, University of Craiova, 200585 Craiova, Romania
Ionica Oncioiu: Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, “Eugeniu Carada” Doctoral School of Economic Sciences, University of Craiova, 200585 Craiova, Romania

Administrative Sciences, 2025, vol. 15, issue 7, 1-21

Abstract: In a European context, facing pressure to digitalize public administration, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) at the local level remains a deeply uneven and empirically poorly understood process. This study investigates the degree of adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in local public administrations in Germany, exploring territorial disparities and institutional factors influencing this transition. Based on a national sample of 347 municipalities, this research proposes a composite AI adoption index, built by integrating six relevant indicators (including the use of conversational bots and the automation of internal and decision-making processes). In the simulations, local administration profiles were differentiated according to factors such as IT staff (with a weight of 30%), the degree of urbanization (25%), and participation in digital networks (20%), reflecting significant structural variations between regions. The analysis model used is a multilevel one, which highlights the combined influences of local and regional factors. The results indicate a clear stratification of digital innovation capacity, with significant differences between eastern and western Germany, as well as between urban and rural environments. The study contributes to the specialized literature by developing a replicable analytical tool and provides public policy recommendations for reducing interregional digital divides.

Keywords: artificial intelligence; local government; digital public administration; regional disparities; multilevel modeling; digital infrastructure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L M M0 M1 M10 M11 M12 M14 M15 M16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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