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Digital state capacity: a conceptualization approach

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  • Paiva, Yago

    (School of Public Policy, Government and Business of the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV EPPG))

Abstract

Digital technologies matter more and more for state affairs, yet few formulations define what digital is for the continuous structure of the state after decades of digitalization. This article argues that digital has become an essential dimension of state capacity. Drawing on an ontological-semantic approach to concept building, it constructs the concept of digital capacity around three necessary dimensions: digital apparatus, digital space control and digital interaction. It then develops the Digital Capacity Index, covering the 193 United Nations members from 2001 to 2022. Validity tests show a consistent concept-measure relationship and support comparative policy analysis of the digital state.

Suggested Citation

  • Paiva, Yago, 2026. "Digital state capacity: a conceptualization approach," SocArXiv zp38e_v1, Center for Open Science.
    • Handle: RePEc:osf:socarx:zp38e_v1
    DOI: 10.31235/osf.io/zp38e_v1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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