A niche analysis of two channels of open government information: online and offline

Abstract

With the rapid development and wide popularization of information and communication technology (ICT), two trends in the policy implementation process of open government information channels have emerged: online and offline. This research uses an implementation behavior theoretical framework and panel data of 31 provincial governments in mainland China from 2008–2017 to compare and analyze the factors influencing the implementation of online and offline channels. The results demonstrate that over 10 years, online channels have replaced offline channels as the main channels of open government information and that there are significant differences in the influence of different factors on the online and offline channels. Upward pressure and internal willingness do not significantly impact offline channels but have partially significant positive effects on online channels. Citizen participation and the regional environment have significant effects on online and offline channels, but the effects are inconsistent. The findings add to the literature on the implementation of different policy elements in the field of policy science, providing a decision-making reference for governments to adjust and balance the implementation process between online and offline channels.

Keywords:

• open government information
• online channels
• offline channels
• implementation process
• Government of China

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Humanity and Social Science Youth Foundation of the Ministry of Education of China (18YJC630252); the Program for the Philosophy and Social Sciences Research of Higher Learning Institutions of Shanxi (2020W063); and the Key Project of Philosophy and Social Science Planning of Shanxi Province (2020ZD022).

Notes on contributors

Yu Zhang

Yu Zhang is a lecturer, master’s tutor, and Deputy Director of the Digital Governance Research Center in the School of Public Management of the Shanxi University of Finance and Economics. Her research interests include e-government, Internet governance, and digital governance.