"Survey of Government and the Internet".

• Author: MARCINIAK, TODD M.
• Position: Status of e-government around the world - Brief Article

The Economist, June 24,2000, pp. 62-63.

This 34-page survey is a combination of 10 articles written about the progress and status of e-government thus far. They range in detail from ideas of e-democracy and the provision of government services online (including steps governments around the world have taken to initiate e-government projects in communities and schools) to the problematic issues concerning the lack of availability of the Internet and computers for all people. Elegantly blending current fact along with a theoretical philosophy about the future uses and benefits of e-government, this survey not only demonstrates the current and possible benefits of the Internet to the world of government, but readily points out that this is not happening in the all too distant future. Rather, with its examples of such countries as Singapore and the United Kingdom, The Economist urges governments to not become laggards in a development which is far from complete, but has nevertheless already begun to take place. For instance, the State of Arizona and the countries of Britain and Singapore are used as primary examples of governments taking the lead in e-government. Britain and Singapore, in particular; are not just initiating the...