The Effects of the Digital Divide on E-Government: An Emperical Evaluation

E-government is revolutionizing the way government agencies interact with citizens. E-services improve the responsiveness, efficiency and transparency of the public sector. Unfortunately, these benefits may not be realized by the entire population. A digital divide exists in society, both from an access point of view and from a skills point of view. This study explores the potential effects of the digital divide on e-government by surveying a diverse group of citizens to identify the demographic characteristics that impact use of e-government services. The results indicate that income, education, age and frequency of Internet use significantly impact the use of e-government services. We discuss the implications of these findings and provide suggestions for future research.