Examining the anti-corruption effect of e-government and the moderating effect of national culture: A cross-country study

Abstract

This study addresses whether e-government influences the level of corruption control in a cross-country view. To that end, it examines the influence of e-government service maturity on corruption control considering international-level political, economic, and cultural differences. The path analysis on the relationships among various global indicators reveals that e-government service maturity contributes to controlling corruption, and national culture moderates the anti-corruption effect of e-government. Cross-country disparities in political, economic, and cultural conditions influence the variation in the impact of e-government on corruption control. While convincing evidence that affluent democracies can control corruption more effectively than other countries is presented, an examination of cultural moderation finds that national cultures characterized as having unequal power distribution and uncertainty avoidance have a decreased anti-corruption effect of e-government.