IMF-包容性政府技术：通过公共服务数字化提高效率和公平（英）-2023.10-49页_2mb

Summary of "Inclusive GovTech: Enhancing Equity and Efficiency Through Public Service Digitalization"

Introduction

This paper analyzes how government technology (GovTech) can improve equity and efficiency in public service digitalization. It uses empirical data and event studies to demonstrate that digital technologies, such as digital budget payments and e-procurement, enhance budget transparency, reduce corruption, and expand social assistance coverage, particularly benefiting the poor and female workers.

Key Findings

• Efficiency Gains: GovTech adoption, such as digital budget payments and e-procurement, increases budget transparency and expenditure efficiency by reducing leakage and improving fiscal management. For example, digital payments boost social assistance coverage and reduce business informality.

• Equity Benefits: Digital initiatives raise income shares for the bottom 50% of the population and female workers, with effects materializing over 10 years. These benefits depend on robust digital connectivity and strong enabling institutions, such as dedicated GovTech agencies, which facilitate inter-agency coordination.

• Heterogeneity: Impacts vary by country context. EMDEs show significant gains from digital payments, while digital infrastructure gaps in LIDCs can limit benefits. A centralized GovTech institution is critical but not sufficient alone; complementary policies like legal reforms and system integration are needed.

• Mechanism: Reduction in business informality is a primary driver of equity gains, as digital tools formalize the economy and create equal market opportunities.

Conclusion

Digitalization of public services offers substantial potential for inclusive growth, but success hinges on strong enabling environments. Policymakers must invest in digital infrastructure and institutional coordination to maximize efficiency and equity. Future research should address heterogeneity and methodological refinements.

Note: Based on an analysis of IMF Working Paper WP/23/226.