E-government, political system and COVID-19 in Africa: lessons for future disruptive shocks
Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy
ISSN: 1750-6166
Article publication date: 23 January 2023
Issue publication date: 30 October 2023
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the role of mobile tracing applications as part of e-government services in combating the COVID-19 pandemic effects in Africa by analyzing the moderating role of sustainable development. This study also investigated the role of the political and economic systems in mitigating the negative consequences of COVID-19 and how e-government interacts in this relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
This study included the COVID-19 performance index for 94 countries belonging to different regions, including 20 African countries. Multiple linear regression was used for data analysis via Stata software. The study was conducted from the start of the pandemic to March 13, 2021.
Findings
The results show that less economically and technologically developed countries with generally authoritarian political systems, including African countries, could limit the spread of the pandemic better than some democratic, economically and technologically developed countries in the first wave of the pandemic. The promotion of sustainable development goals moderates the relationship between mobile tracing applications as part of the e-government service and the fight against COVID-19.
Originality/value
This study provides insight into the role of mobile application technology as an e-governance service in mitigating the negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in a context characterized by economic limitations, fragile public health infrastructure and relatively high political instability, especially in Africa. The findings shed light on some of the difficulties African countries may face in incorporating technology into their development projects.
Keywords
Citation
Dammak, S., Mbarek, S. and Moalla, M. (2023), "E-government, political system and COVID-19 in Africa: lessons for future disruptive shocks", Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy, Vol. 17 No. 3, pp. 288-302. https://doi.org/10.1108/TG-07-2022-0100
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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