The effects of e-government evaluation, trust and the digital divide in the levels of e-government use in European countries

Abstract

Despite the significant amounts of public investment devoted to enhancing e-government over the last ten years, citizens’ use of this service is still limited, posing a challenge to national governments. By analysing panel data derived from 27 European countries for the period 2010 to 2018, our work confirms that citizens’ use of e-government services is influenced by supply-side e-government evaluations, citizens’ trust in governments and the digital divide associated to income and education. Moreover, a longitudinal cluster analysis allows us to identify patterns of behaviour between the countries as regards the way those variables interact with the use of e-government services over time. Relevant practical implications derive from the research that can guide public policy in the area of e-government.