Electronic administration in the service of public policy

Abstract

This work analyzes from several perspectives the growing importance of electronic administration in the design and implementation of public policy. First, analysis is made of the difficulties inherent in viewing electronic administration solely as an instrument, given that its methods substantially modify the traditional modes of interaction with citizens as well as the implementation of public policy; and this gives rise to an opportunity to reconfigure traditional policies, even in an essential way. This work concentrates in particular on horizontal public policies, where the possibilities for modification and momentum are most evident, including public management quality policies, policies for democratic development (especially development of “open government”), inclusion policies, and economic policy. Finally, the article considers the autonomous policy of effective use of electronic administration, given the existing gap between supply of and demand for electronic services, as well as the inclination of citizens to continue using traditional administration, an issue that has been systematized and analyzed in various international reports.