E-Government and the Fight Against Corruption: Conceptual Modeland Five Case Studies from India

Abstract

Corruption in varying degrees exists in almost all countries. But its alarmingly high levels and persistence in developing countries such as India is a cause for deep concern. Indeed, international agencies and governments are continually engaged in devising new strategies to check corruption. Although e-government has held much promise in this regard, its impact on developing country corruption presents a mixed picture. The paper connects to the relevant theories and posits a conceptual model of e-government impact on corruption. In addition, a few Indian case-studies are re-visited and their outcomes with regard to corruption are analyzed afresh in terms of the conceptual model. This paper should help e-government impact research to move forward from non-theory to theory driven.