eGovernment Implementation in Italy. Regional Index for NRRP Goals Evaluation

Abstract

AbstractThe rapid acceleration of digitalization in response to the Sars-Cov-2 pandemic in 2020 has necessitated the development of policy strategies to manage the new phase of digital transition. The public sector has been particularly impacted during critical pandemic phases, requiring the assurance of uninterrupted essential service delivery to citizens. Despite eGovernment being recognized as a crucial element for digital recovery and innovation by European institutions, there is a need to consider the potential distortive impact of poorly informed digital policies, which could worsen existing territorial inequalities and hamper national economic resilience, as exemplified in the case of Italy. To address this, the present study proposes the creation of a regional eGovernment indicator based on the recovery and resilience goals outlined in M1C1 of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. This indicator identifies primary functional objectives for the digital transition in Public Administration. The methodology for synthesizing the indicator utilizes the Peña distance method, providing a more robust measurement compared to techniques found in the literature. Additionally, it enables the production of a spatial and temporal comparison of regional performance, offering policymakers a tailored tool to monitor recovery performance at the regional level. The indicator underscores a significant digital divide between northern and southern Italy, highlighting regions like Lazio that exhibit opposing trends compared to their respective macro-areas.