Does e-government integration contribute to the quality and equality of local public services? Empirical evidence from China

Zijun Mao () and Yuqian Zhu ()
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Zijun Mao: College of Public Administration, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Yuqian Zhu: College of Public Administration, Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Palgrave Communications, 2025, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Integrated e-government at different scales plays an increasingly important role in local public services worldwide. This study uses panel data from 31 provincial e-governments in China from 2015 to 2020 to investigate the effects of the intraprovincial e-government integration on the provincial quality and interprovincial equality of public services. The results show that integrated e-government effectively contributes to the quality and equality of public services. Mechanistic tests reveal that integrated e-government promotes service quality by improving administrative efficiency and supporting technological innovation. Under central government support, integrated e-government also improves the interprovincial equality of public services by reducing administrative inefficiency from decentralization and promoting technology diffusion. Moreover, e-government integration is a stronger driver of service quality and equality for provinces with low fiscal transparency. These findings provide theoretical and practical insights for promoting public service quality and equality through collaborative e-government.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1057/s41599-025-04539-y

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