Imperatives and challenges in using e-government to combat corruption: a systematic review of literature and a holistic model

Abstract

Corruption, both bureaucratic and political, exists in various forms. Causes and effects of corruption have been documented in various academic and practitioner forums. Developing countries are plagued by rampant corruption caused by several economic, cultural, social and regulatory factors and are struggling to make changes to control and combat corruption. e-Government and e-Participation systems can substantially reduce corruption. Through a comprehensive literature review of over 100 published papers, we analyze the different theoretical models, empirical data and conclusions relating to e-government and its role in combating corruption. We decoct and synthesize the review to evolve four dominant themes relating to the association of e-government with corruption and propose a holistic model of the same. We also examine the challenges associated with each of the themes. We believe this model can be validated by researchers in different contexts while such a holistic understanding can help practitioners view potential solutions differently.