ECePS - ERA Chair in E-Governance and Digital Public Services

Selle kollektsiooni püsiv URIhttps://hdl.handle.net/10062/71906

ECePS kodulehekülg.

ECePS is a 5-year project funded by the EU to raise the research excellence and profile of the University of Tartu in addressing three questions:

• How to harness the benefits of digital transformation of government while minimizing the associated risks and ensuring security, privacy and equal access?

• How can obstacles that prevent governments from implementing e-governance systems be overcome?

• How can researchers and practitioners best utilize the vast amounts of data that is already being generated throughout the world (via existing public e-services)?

ECePS will do so by:

• Applying predictive analytics to existing e-governance systems to suggest improvements to evidence-based policymaking;

• Examining how e-governance data can be utilized to test the effect of specific policies on behavior in real time and not through ex-post impact evaluations;

• Identifying how real-time analysis of in-motion big data can be done while protecting citizens’ privacy and security;

• Examining the impact of e-participation in democratic systems;

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Nüüd näidatakse 1 - 20 71

State versus Technology: What drives trust in and usage of internet voting, institutional or technological trust?
(Elsevier, 2025-09-05) Romanov, Bogdan; Duenas Cid, David; Leets, Peeter
This study examines the combined influence of technological and institutional trust on citizens’ perceptions of and engagement with Internet voting, addressing gaps in the literature on digital governance and trust. While prior research often treats these trust dimensions separately, this article explores their interplay within the context of Estonia, which has utilized Internet voting for two decades. By constructing composite indices for technological and institutional trust through factor analysis, the study offers a novel methodological approach to operationalizing trust in digital governance (within the article, digital governance and e-governance are used interchangeably) research in general and Internet voting in particular, based on post-electoral survey data. Applying linear and logistic regression analyses, the study explicitly examines how these trust dimensions affect citizens’ trust in Internet voting systems and their actual use of such technology. The findings reveal that institutional trust is significantly more influential than technological trust, consistently emerging as the primary driver for both trusting Internet voting and engaging in its usage. Technological trust, in contrast, demonstrates only marginal predictive strength, highlighting the greater importance citizens place on institutional legitimacy, transparency, and accountability. These results emphasize the compensatory nature of institutional trust, suggesting that robust institutional frameworks allow citizens to confidently engage with complex technological systems despite limited technical understanding. Consequently, this research enhances theoretical insights into trust dynamics within digital governance, particularly in contexts where political sensitivity and institutional credibility significantly impact technology adoption.
I Know, Therefore, I Trust?
(Oxford University Press, British Computer Society, 2025-12-30) Romanov, Bogdan; Duenas Cid, David; Solvak, Mihkel
Internet voting is widely adopted in Estonia, yet psychological factors influencing its acceptance remain underexplored. The increasing complexity of digital voting systems raises concerns about whether voters rely on institutional trust or personal confidence driven by knowledge. This study applies Simmel’s concept of trust, bridging ignorance and certainty, and Giddens’ differentiation between trust and confidence. These frameworks help understand how different knowledge levels influence the mechanisms voters use to decide whether to use Internet voting or not. Using post-election survey data from the 2021 local and 2023 parliamentary elections in Estonia (N = 1,153, N = 1,001), this study examines how technical knowledge moderates the relationship between trust in institutions and confidence in one’s own knowledge when it relates to Internet voting. The key independent variables include technical knowledge, confidence in the system, and trust in political institutions; the dependent variable is binary Internet voting usage. Logistic regressions are employed to assess the effects of the variables, including the set of standard socio-economic controls. Results show that confidence is the decisive factor for individuals with high levels of technical knowledge, significantly increasing their likelihood of voting online. Trust in government does not exert a consistent effect overall, with significance emerging only among respondents with high knowledge. By contrast, both trust in system performance and trust in Internet voting show robust positive main effects across the electorate, without evidence that their influence differs by knowledge level. These findings enrich the literature by influencing how knowledge conditions the role of confidence, while trust complements adoption more broadly.
Pandemic-proof elections: Did COVID-19 increase the use of Internet voting?
(Department for E-Governance and Administration, University for Continuing Education Krems, 2025-12-31) Romanov, Bogdan; Solvak, Mihkel
COVID-19 forced governments to postpone elections, potentially jeopardizing the func-tionality of democratic societies by delaying regime legitimization. However, theoretically, In-ternet voting, as a mode of absentee voting, can easily overcome the pandemic circumstances by reducing the electorate's voting costs, yet the connection was not discovered. Hence, in this re-search, we decided to shed light on how COVID-19 affected voting costs and Internet voting usage, especially across at-risk groups. As a result, we explored that in the state with homogeneous i-voting diffusion, COVID-19 did not impact paper-voting and i-voting turnout, in general, and amidst the elderly population as well. First of all, these findings illustrate the existence of a saturation point in the technology acceptance rate. Additionally, the article discusses the theo-retical-empirical conceptualization of voting costs and the causal mechanism of the pandemic and turnout.
Crafting a Cybersecurity Governance Ecosystem: Two Decades of Learning in Estonia
(Wiley, 2025-07-28) Carmichael, Logan
Cybersecurity is a new but pervasive phenomenon facing governments today, emerging as a global policy concern over recent decades. Governments must craft institutional setups for cybersecurity as the global threat landscape evolves. This paper examines the process of allocating governmental responsibility for cybersecurity inside the Estonian government, among the first to publicly acknowledge cyberattacks against a nation-state in 2007. Furthermore, it looks at how this process has changed over time and how this process can eventuate. It employs a collaborative governance theoretical approach, emphasizing the myriad actors involved with such processes, and qualitative research methodology, via interviews with public officials across the Estonian government. This paper indicates that cybersecurity purview has shifted over time from a military to a civilian one, prioritizing the country's digitalization, and that governmental understandings of cybersecurity are neither codified nor entirely consistent, though this could be expected in a governance environment where myriad actors are involved.
Public Encounters and Government Chatbots: When Servers Talk to Citizens
(Wiley, 2025-07-04) Alishani, Art; Homburg, Vincent; Velsberg, Ott
Public service providers around the world are now offering chatbots to answer citizens' questions and deliver digital services. Using these artificial intelligence-powered technologies, citizens can engage in conversations with governments through systems that mimic face-to-face interactions and adjust their use of natural language to citizens' communication styles. This paper examines emerging experiences with chatbots in government interactions, with a focus on exploring what public administration practitioners and scholars should expect from chatbots in public encounters. Furthermore, it seeks to identify what gaps exist in the general understanding of digital public encounters.
Lessons from small and highly-digitalised Estonia: Decision-making in the aftermath of cybersecurity crises
(Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society, 2025-08-13) Carmichael, Logan
As governments across the world increasingly undergo digitalisation processes, ensuring cybersecurity of these provisions cannot be 100% guaranteed. How, then, can governments best respond to a cybersecurity crisis in order to bolster cybersecurity in the future? Even Estonia, one of the earliest and most pervasive examples of e-governance globally, has not been without cybersecurity crises. Using four key Estonian examples, this paper examines the components of government decision-making in the aftermath of cybersecurity crises, which aim to bolster future cybersecurity. Three key approaches emerged from the crises examined: 1) decision-making is derived from prior knowledge and experience; 2) communications around cybersecurity crises is clear, coordinated, and transparent; and 3) innovation and planning should take place in times of non-crisis, as crises often expedite decision-making. Ultimately, this paper offers insight into how governments can make decisions following cybersecurity crises, in contexts beyond Estonia, as they undergo digitalisation processes and increasingly face cyberattacks.
Delving into the governance of cross-border interoperability solutions in the EU
(Department for E-Governance and Administration, University for Continuing Education Krems, 2025-05-19) Dedović, Stefan; Crompvoets, Joep
The European Union's single market recently celebrated its 30th anniversary. However, unique developments in digital governance have exposed significant barriers to the establishment of a digital single market. One notable challenge is the creation of cross-border digital public services, which is impeded by a lack of interoperability among information systems. Although there have been important advancements toward achieving interoperability, particularly with the development of cross-border interoperability solutions, the governance of these solutions has not been thoroughly examined. This study aims to fill that gap by analysing the governance arrangements of three specific cases: EUCARIS, OOTS, and Peppol. Through an exploratory multi-case study, we identify the governance structures in place and find that network governance is most prevalent, shaped largely by the EU’s regulatory and political context.
Trust in online voting under different regime settings: evidence from public opinion on online voting in national elections in Estonia and Russia
(Taylor & Francis, 2025-04-03) Romanov, Bogdan; Babayan, Valeria
This study examines attitudes toward online voting in Russia and Estonia, the only countries with online nationwide elections. While both countries share a common post-Soviet legacy, their divergent political regimes provide a distinctive framework for comparative analysis. Survey data from Russia (2021) and Estonia (2023) reveal that duty-based motivations to vote are more prevalent in authoritarian Russia with a vivid Soviet legacy, while instrumental motivations (e.g. convenience, fairness) have a greater contribution to attitude formation in democratic Estonia. Perceived advantages affect trust in online voting; however, the “winner effect” reduces trust in both contexts, highlighting differences in technology adoption in electoral processes. Our results challenge the findings regarding online voting adoption in terms of individual characteristics, such as age, technological competences, and education, displaying the variability of their effects across regime settings.
Real-Time Economy: A New Frontier in Business and Economic Growth
(Ragnar Nurkse Department of Innovation and Governance, Tallinn University of Technology, 2025-03-17) Alishani, Art; Olesk, Maarja; Soe, Ralf-Martin; Kadak, Tarmo; Krimmer, Robert
This article delves into the concept of the Real-Time Economy (RTE), defined as a joint digital ecosystem where economic and administrative transactions between private and public actors take place as close to real-time as possible. It is an emerging economic paradigm characterized by instantaneous (or near-instantaneous) data exchange, real-time decision-making, and automated business processes. We conducted a systematic literature review across research domains such as information systems, business management, accountancy, and economics to capture and understand this continual transition toward digital business and economy. Our findings suggest that RTE has the potential to become an important topic in digital transformation, enabling the economy to function independently of the physical location and human intervention. We identified the factors that have contributed to the rise of RTE, such as rapid advancements in digital technology, big data, and artificial intelligence. Further, we explore the potential benefits and challenges of embracing RTE, including increased efficiency, reduced transaction costs, and enhanced competitiveness. Our article also highlights the role of governments in promoting the adoption of RTE through policy interventions, infrastructure investments, and public–private partnerships. Lastly, we conclude by discussing the transformative potential of RTE and the challenges to ensure a sustainable and secure economic future.
Implementation of e-government initiatives: a case study of accessibility upgrades in Chinese municipal government websites
(Emerald, 2025-03-05) He, Biao; Homburg, Vincent; Halvorsen, Rune
Purpose This study aims to identify Chinese municipal agencies’ and cadres’ drivers to implement government websites’ accessibility upgrades, and to explain how these drivers are interrelated to shape the implementation outcome. Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted a single case study using qualitative interviews, online follow-up conversations, fieldwork observations and policy documents in the capital municipality MD of J Province, East China. The authors analyzed the case from the theoretical perspectives of institutional pressures, organizational capacity and individual intentions. Findings Coercive pressure through policy mandate and benchmark incentivized the responsible agency and cadres in MD to initiate the implementation of the accessibility upgrades and “meet the set targets.” The responsible agency’s enhanced organizational capacity and local cadres’ engagement allowed them to “outperform” as their eventual way of achieving the mandate requirements. The implementation outcome resulted from the interplay of all levels of incentives. Coercive pressure predominantly drove the launch of the upgrade project, meanwhile significantly influencing the organizational- and individual-level incentives that additionally explained the outperformance. Originality/value This study provides a nuanced, in-depth understanding of how sedimented factors and especially their interrelationships drive the implementation of e-government initiatives and shape the implementation outcome in Chinese municipal agencies.
Introduction
(Springer Cham, 2024-11-14) Lampoltshammer, Thomas J.; Solvak, Mihkel; Homburg, Vincent
This chapter introduces some technological and policy developments that are at the heart of the mGov4EU project. In the mGov4EU project, various pilots implement and validate enhanced infrastructure services for electronic voting, smart mobility and mobile signing, using mobile devices most of us nowadays naturally expect as a default way of accessing services. The pilots aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of providing cross-border information to enhance cross-border mobility and cross-border collaboration in the European Union. The pilots also demonstrated how enhanced electronic identities and trust services (eIDAS) and Single Digital Gateway Regulation (SDGR) layers can accommodate once-only, digital-by-default and mobile-first principles. For this to result in user-centric, user-friendly mobile public services, stakehold-ers’ roles (including but not limited to end users’ experiences and requirements) have to be identified, architecture core building blocks have to be assembled, implementations have to align with EU eIDAS and SDG regulations and, with the eSignature interoperability system and the Digital Wallet System, ethics, security and privacy requirements have to be taken into account and evaluated. The long-term viability has to be ensured. This first chapter briefly introduces all these relevant angles and describes how the various chapters will focus on how specific challenges were tackled and what lessons learnt could be drawn.
Future Outlook and Research Ideas
(Springer Cham, 2024-11-14) Lampoltshammer, Thomas J.; Leitold, Herbert; Schmidt, Carsten; Zefferer, Thomas
This chapter uses the lessons learned from technical work and piloting of the mGov4EU project, as well as experience made so far in developing the Single Digital Gateway (SDG) Once-Only Technical System (OOTS) and the European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDIW). These are our basis, and we dare to look into the future. The two European flagship policy initiatives OOTS and EUDIW are meant to facilitate citizens’ journey through European public services but also are meant as tools to navigate private services in the Digital Single Market. It, however, would be naïve to assume that setting such complex systems into production is the end of an endeavour. We might only learn through first experience where pitfalls lie but in particular what opportunities are given that haven’t been seen before. We, therefore, give authors’ views on where this road might lead us and what research might be essential to get there. The chapter, thus, aims at anticipating what might be needed to reap the benefits of OOTS and EUDIW in a mobile world from a governance perspective, a privacy and data protection perspective, a services perspective and a mobile technologies perspective. Therefore, each section first sets the scene by outlining the status. This is followed by addressing some challenges and gives an outlook by indicating how research might address these challenges.
Cross-Border Mobile Government Services: Exploring Business Model Dynamics in mGov4EU
(Springer Cham, 2024-11-14) Lampoltshammer, Thomas J.; Sellung, Rachelle; Dedovic, Stefan
The mGov4EU project represents an ambitious effort to revolutionise European mobile government services. It aims to develop an ecosystem that integrates state-of-the-art digital wallet approaches within the framework of eIDAS and SDG. This initiative is pivotal in fostering a seamless interface between citizens, businesses, and public administrations, enhancing the efficiency and user experience in accessing government services. Despite its potential, the mGov4EU project confronts many challenges, including legal compliance, technical interoperability, user acceptance, and the formulation of viable and sustainable business models. These challenges are particularly pronounced in the public sector, where traditional business strategies may not align seamlessly with innovative digital service models. This chapter focuses on examining the business model aspects of the mGov4EU project. It explores the strategies and priorities of the project’s partners, particularly in the context of sustaining and scaling the project outcomes within the European framework. It reflects on decisions, as well as challenges accordingly.
Sustainability and Governance of the mGov4EU Project
(Springer Cham, 2024-11-14) Schmidt, Carsten; Dedovic, Stefan
Sustainability and governance of the mGov4EU project are critical for its long-term success, particularly in transforming public services and streamlining administrative processes. The mGov4EU project, aiming to design user-centric solutions and enhance cross-border digital public services, places sustainability and governance at the forefront. This involves meticulous outcomes analysis, focusing on pilots and architecture, considering legal frameworks, stakeholder involvement, financial models, and developmental status. The exploration of cross-border mobile government factors reveals consistent determinants across various typologies, encompassing technology, innovation, public officials, citizens, organi-sations, institutions, public sector context, and broader environmental factors. The multifaceted influences on digital governance initiatives underscore the complex nature of the mGov4EU project. This chapter delves into the piloting impact assessment, analysing design and execution phases. The assessment is crucial for shaping a sustainability plan, recognising core results requiring sustained focus, and identifying areas for improvement. The GOFA model (Governance, Operations, Finance, and Architecture) and Objectives and Key Results (OKR) methodology are applied for a detailed analysis of project outcomes, ensuring a thorough understanding of challenges and requirements for long-term success. The goal is to establish a robust foundation for sustainability and governance, introducing the GOFA model and OKR analysis to navigate the complex landscape of mGov4EU outcomes. The integrated approach ensures a thorough understanding of challenges and requirements essential for long-term success. Challenges across pilots and architecture are addressed, focusing on stakeholder involvement, take-up, flexibility, and continuity. Co-creation principles are integrated into different project stages, fostering collaboration and engagement with various stakeholders. A transdisciplinary context is integrated into the impact assessment, and the GOFA model is employed for sustainability and governance. The co-creation principle is a recurring theme, engaging stakeholders in ongoing project development and execution. In general, the mGov4EU project, emphasising sustainability and governance, presents a holistic approach to address the complexities of cross-border digital public services, ensuring long-term success and impactful outcomes.
Summary
(Springer Cham, 2024-11-14) Schmidt, Carsten; Lampoltshammer, Thomas J.; Homburg, Vincent
This chapter uses the lessons learned from technical work and piloting of the mGov4EU project, as well as experience made so far in developing the Single Digital Gateway (SDG) Once-Only Technical System (OOTS) and the European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDIW). These are our basis, and we dare to look into the future. The two European flagship policy initiatives OOTS and EUDIW are meant to facilitate citizens’ journey through European public services but also are meant as tools to navigate private services in the Digital Single Market. It, however, would be naïve to assume that setting such complex systems into production is the end of an endeavour. We might only learn through first experience where pitfalls lie but in particular what opportunities are given that haven’t been seen before. We, therefore, give authors’ views on where this road might lead us and what research might be essential to get there. The chapter, thus, aims at anticipating what might be needed to reap the benefits of OOTS and EUDIW in a mobile world from a governance perspective, a privacy and data protection perspective, a services perspective and a mobile technologies perspective. Therefore, each section first sets the scene by outlining the status. This is followed by addressing some challenges and gives an outlook by indicating how research might address these challenges.
Internet voting: The role of personality traits and trust across three parliamentary elections in Estonia
(Springer, 2022-09-24) Sindermann, Cornelia; Rozgonjuk, Dmitri; Solvak, Mihkel; Realo, Anu; Vassil, Kristjan
Some countries offer options to vote in elections remotely via the internet. However, not all voters take up this opportunity. This study investigates the role of the Five-Factor Model personality traits in the choice to use internet voting, and the potential mediating effects of trust in internet voting, controlling for sociodemographic variables. Survey data collected after national elections in Estonia in 2011 (N = 482), 2015 (N = 535), and 2019 (N = 546) were analyzed. Agreeableness was positively correlated with trust in internet voting in all samples. Additionally, Agreeableness was related to internet voting via trust, but not in all samples. Internet voting was predicted by higher trust in internet voting, better PC literacy, and speaking Estonian at home, across all samples. These results indicate that easy access to, and trust in, internet voting may play a bigger role in the decision to use internet voting than personality traits.
A Case Study of the Public Sector Digital Ecosystem in Estonia
(IEEE Xplore, 2024-05-03) Solvak, Mihkel; Lauringson, Ave
We discuss the core features of the Estonian digital ecosystem that have led to an exponential growth of in public digital service usage and started a move into the so-called post-digital society. A universal electronic identification system ensures that all citizens have default access to digital services. Uniform universal access is complemented with a distributed data exchange layer called X-Road, which allows service owners to engage in peer to peer data exchanges. Such a system has created positive dynamics from service demand (citizens) and supply (service owners) side. The secure digital identity enjoys high trust, which leads to high service usage rates and increased demand for more digitalized service. That same secure universal access and a data exchange system that is designed to create network effects, ensures a large immediate customer base for service owners, which makes data intensive digital service development faster and more cost-efficient. Finally, the frequent exchange of technologists between the private and public sector ensures rolling out of services and policies, like the e-residency program, that create new international customers for otherwise national digital services.
Decentralization and its Impacts on Disability Service Delivery in China
(Oxford University Press, 2024-07-16) He, Biao; Halvorsen, Rune; Ding, Peng; Zhang, Wanhong
Amidst the waves of neoliberalism diffused from the Global North, China and other countries in the Global South have adopted decentralization reforms since the 1980s as a strategic approach to drive economic development, improve administrative management, and enhance public service provision. However, empirical observations reveal a nuanced picture of the impacts on public service delivery. This chapter explores how the 1980s and 1990s decentralization reforms in China with its specific characteristics have influenced the disability service delivery by focusing on the provision of accessible government websites. Analyzing the stories of two Chinese municipalities, Wuhan and Shenzhen, this comparative case study identifies divergent outcomes in central-local disability policy transfer and subsequently disability service delivery across localities, arguably linked to the decentralization reforms in the last century. This chapter extends our understanding of the impacts of decentralization on both specific policy domins and societal progress in the Global South.
Cross-border digital public services in the European Union: a systematic literature review
(Inderscience, 2024-05-03) Dedovic, Stefan; Homburg, Vincent
The success of the European single market and advancements in digital technologies have increased the focus on cross-border digital public services. To date, most academic research on digital public services has been concentrated on national and local levels, with research on cross-border digital public services being scattered across various academic disciplines. In this paper, we provide a systematic literature review on cross-border digital public services. We conclude that current research on cross-border digital public services describes the symptoms of faltering coordination at the level of European policy making organisational change challenges and limited maturity with low levels of interoperability between public administrations in the EU. However, cross-border digital public services literature is undertheorised, and we suggest using multi-level governance theories, theories of organisational change, interoperability studies, and service development literature to guide future research into cross-border digital public services, through which European citizens and businesses can experience the impact of European integration policies.
Electronic Voting: 7th International Joint Conference, E-Vote-ID 2022 Bregenz, Austria, October 4–7, 2022 Proceedings
(Springer International Publishing, 2022) Krimmer, Robert; Volkamer, Melanie; Duenas-Cid, David; Rønne, Peter; Germann, Micha
This volume contains papers presented at E-Vote-ID 2022, the Seventh International Joint Conference on Electronic Voting, held during October 4–7, 2022. This was the first in-person conference following the COVID-19 pandemic, and, as such, it was a very special event for the community since we returned to the traditional venue in Bregenz, Austria. The E-Vote-ID conference resulted from merging EVOTE and Vote-ID, and 18 years have now elapsed since the first EVOTE conference in Austria. Since that conference in 2004, over 1500 experts have attended the venue, including scholars, practitioners, authorities, electoral managers, vendors, and PhD students. E-Vote-ID collects the most relevant debates on the development of electronic voting, from aspects relating to security and usability through to practical experiences and applications of voting systems, also including legal, social, or political aspects, amongst others, turning out to be an important global referent on these issues.

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