Citizen-Centric Approach to E-government:

Can It Help in Overcoming the Digitalization Financing Obstacle?

The study identifies possible factors that could influence citizens' demand for e-government services and their impact on the funding sources for these services. It also seeks to provide recommendations to governmental decision-makers to support better design and implementation of e-government services based on citizens' needs and demands. A questionnaire was designed to study citizens' demand for e-government services, represented by electronic submission of electricity meter readings if made available to citizens. The questionnaire also aims to assess citizens' willingness to pay additional fees for the electronic service if provided. Data was collected from July to August 2020 in Greater Cairo, with a sample size of 400 citizens.

The study found that demand for the e-service under study is influenced by some demographic factors such as place of residence, age, income level, and education. It is also affected by citizens' knowledge about available e-government services, internet accessibility, and their ability to use it. Additionally, the expected benefits or relative advantage of e-services, their ease of use, and trust in the government also indirectly impact the level of demand for e-government services. The study proposed several recommendations for decision-makers to select the appropriate funding mechanism for e-government projects. 

Source: المجلة العلمية للإقتصاد و التجارة, Article 4, Volume 51, Issue 4, December 2021, Page 167-210