An assessment of advanced digital government readiness and related ethical concerns in Romania in the EU digital decade. From missed opportunities to silver linings

Objectives This paper attempts to take stock of the realities of digital government in Romania, its ethical considerations in the context of the EU Digital Decade and identify possible remedies..Prior work The current investigation builds on the premises of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology and links the theoretical and empirical research in the field with the contemporary developments of public management. Approach The paper bridges the theoretical and empirical research in the field of e-government with a comparative analysis of successful e-government services to reveal the best avenues for e-government development in Romania. Results This study presents theoretical and practical insights supporting the implementation of valuable and appropriate e-government solutions in Romania. Implications Given the objectives of the inquiry, its implications will primarily concern public management practice and Value This exploration provides a novel perspective on the existing challenges and solutions in digital government based on an overarching scientific analysis of up-to-date information and data.