This study examines the impact of national public policy initiatives on e-government capacity and the diffusion of information and communication technologies (ICTs) worldwide. The researchers hypothesized that nations with policies promoting ICTs, such as having a national telecommunications regulatory authority and competition in basic telecommunication services, would have greater e-government capacity and ICT diffusion. Analyzing data from over 150 countries, they found national ICT policies were positively associated with increased e-government capacity, and competition in basic telecommunication services was positively associated with greater ICT diffusion. The study provides evidence that targeted public policies can help bridge the global digital divide.

1. EXPLAINING THE GLOBAL DIGITAL DIVIDE: THE IMPACT OF PUBLIC POLICY INITIATIVES ON E-GOVERNMENT CAPACITY AND REACH WORLDWIDE Girish J. “Jeff” Gulati & David J. Yates Bentley University Anas Tawileh Cardiff University

8. Impact of a National Regulatory Authority Have no NRA: Average WMI = 0.21 Top 3 = Japan, Israel & China Have an NRA: Average WMI = 0.39 Top 3 = Denmark, Sweden & USA Web Measure Index Have an NRA Have no NRA

9. Impact of Competition (Basic Svcs) Monopoly: Average WMI = 0.21 Top 3 = Israel, Egypt & Bolivia Partial Competition : Average WMI = 0.26 Top 3 = UAE, Chile & China Full Competition: Average WMI = 0.48 Top 3 = Denmark, Sweden & USA Web Measure Index Partial Competition Monopoly Full Competition

10. Impact of Competition (Mobile Svcs) Monopoly: Average WMI = 0.23 Top 3 = Costa Rica, Kuwait & Lebanon Partial Competition : Average WMI = 0.33 Top 3 = Denmark, UAE & Estonia Full Competition: Average WMI = 0.42 Top 3 = Sweden, USA & Norway Web Measure Index Partial Competition Monopoly Full Competition

11. Impact of Financial Investment Bottom 1/3 : Average WMI = 0.21 Top 3 = Peru, Guatemala & Venezuela Middle 1/3 : Average WMI = 0.35 Top 3 = UAE, Mexico & Spain Top 1/3 : Average WMI = 0.48 Top 3 = Denmark, Sweden & USA Web Measure Index Financial Investment Index

12. Policy Initiatives and E-Government Capacity Unstandardized coefficients. Significance: *** = 0.01, ** = 0.05 Supports Research Hypothesis 1 All policy variables have a positive impact on e-government capacity Policy Variable E-government Capacity (WMI, Model 1) National regulatory authority 0.072 ** Competition in basic services 0.095 *** Competition in mobile services 0.070 ** Financial investment index 0.052 ** Has greatest significance for e-government capacity

13. Policy Variables and E-Government Capacity Multivariate Regression Analysis of the Web Measure Index

14. Impact of a National Regulatory Authority Have no NRA: Average DOI = 0.36 Top 3 = Japan, Taiwan & Israel Have an NRA: Average DOI = 0.41 Top 3 = S. Korea, Denmark & Iceland Digital Opportunity Index Have an NRA Have no NRA

15. Impact of Competition (Basic Svcs) Monopoly: Average DOI = 0.29 Top 3 = Israel, Antigua & Jamaica Partial Competition : Average DOI = 0.34 Top 3 = Barbados, Bahamas & UAE Full Competition: Average DOI = 0.48 Top 3 = S. Korea, Japan & Denmark Partial Competition Monopoly Full Competition Digital Opportunity Index

16. Impact of Competition (Mobile Svcs) Monopoly: Average DOI = 0.33 Top 3 = Bahamas, Brunei & Dominica Partial Competition : Average DOI = 0.38 Top 3 = Denmark, Austria & Belgium Full Competition: Average DOI = 0.43 Top 3 = S. Korea, Japan & Iceland Partial Competition Monopoly Full Competition Digital Opportunity Index

17. Impact of Financial Investment Bottom 1/3 : Average DOI = 0.26 Top 3 = Taiwan, Bahamas & St. Kitts Middle 1/3 : Average DOI = 0.39 Top 3 = Spain, Slovenia & Portugal Top 1/3 : Average DOI = 0.53 Top 3 = S. Korea, Japan & Denmark Financial Investment Index Digital Opportunity Index

18. Policy Initiatives and Diffusion of ICTs Unstandardized coefficients. Significance: * = 0.1 Partially supports Research Hypothesis 2 Competition in basic services has a positive impact on diffusion of ICTs Policy Variable ICT Diffusion (DOI, Model 2) National regulatory authority -0.022 Competition in basic services 0.031 * Competition in mobile services 0.033 Financial investment index 0.023 Almost significant for diffusion of ICTs

19. Policy Variables and Diffusion of ICTs Multivariate Regression Analysis of the Digital Opportunity Index

20. Impact of Policy Initiatives for both Models Unstandardized coefficients. Significance: *** = 0.01, ** = 0.05, * = 0.1 Policy Variable E-government Capacity (WMI, Model 1) ICT Diffusion (DOI, Model 2) National regulatory authority 0.072 ** -0.022 Competition in basic services 0.095 *** 0.031 * Competition in mobile services 0.070 ** 0.033 Financial investment index 0.052 ** 0.023