Does a government web presence reduce perceptions of corruption?

Researchers have found that corruption severely affects a country's development because it takes resources away from the economy, leads to uncertainty and impairs investment. The purpose of this study is, thus, to determine if a government's web presence can help to reduce perceptions of corruption. There is some empirical evidence that it helps, but there is also skepticism from some scholars who argue that technology is simply another tool that can be exploited for purposes of corruption. The statistical model we use in this article looks at governance factors, specifically government effectiveness and accountability, as well as the focus variable of government web portals. Using data from a six-year panel (2002-2005 and 2008) for 208 countries, our analysis finds that governments' web presence has reduced perceptions of corruption around the world. We also provide case evidence from governments that have used Internet portals that have reduced perceptions of corruption. The author recommends that international agencies support and promote the use of the Internet by governments to supplement other anti-corruption measures that rely on improvements in governance alone.