Measuring the efficiency of e-government websites at the municipal level in Mexico

PurposeDetermine the level of efficiency of e-government websites at the municipal level in Mexico to explain the level of use of these platforms.Design/methodology/approachAn instrument was developed based on indicators for measuring websites. Considering those minimum elements that these platforms should have at each maturity level. A total of 323 municipalities were analyzed, taking as a sample 3 states out of the 32 that make up the Mexican Republic.FindingsOf the municipalities analyzed, only 1.86% have a transactional-level e-government website, reflecting low development in this area. Additionally, an average efficiency index of 0.22 was identified on a scale from 0 to 1, highlighting that most municipal websites in Mexico are either nonfunctional or lack the minimum elements necessary to be useful to citizens. In conclusion, the ability of municipalities to promote e-government in Mexico remains limited, as not all have such platforms, and those that do fail to provide efficient services that encourage their use.Practical implicationsThe study identifies the need to implement monitoring indicators to evaluate the sufficiency and efficiency of municipal websites, which would allow the publication of annual reports on the progress of municipal e-government to foster accountability and continuous improvement.Originality/valueThis study was based on an evaluation based on website efficiency indicators, which identified low levels of performance, a limited number of websites at the transactional maturity level, and restricted use by citizens. This situation highlights the deficiency of e-government websites implemented at the municipal level in Mexico, as well as the limited possibilities of improving their usability and their impact on citizens.