DIGITAL MATURITY OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND ITS IMPACT ON COUNTRIES’ ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS BASED ON THE EGDI, DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT SCORE, AND THE OECD DIGITAL GOVERNMENT INDEX
Abstract: The digital maturity of public administration and its impact on countries’ economic performance has become an increasingly important topic in contemporary research on public policy, digital transformation, and macroeconomics. In the context of global digitalization, countries seek to modernize public services, enhance transparency and efficiency, and stimulate economic growth through the use of digital tools and investments in digital infrastructure. The objective of this study is to empirically examine how different dimensions of digital maturity in public administration influence key economic indicators. The analysis is based on three internationally recognized indices: the E‑Government Development Index (EGDI), the Digital Development Score (DDS), and the OECD Digital Government Index. Four research hypotheses are formulated to explore the relationship between digital maturity and GDP per capita, employment in the ICT sector, the efficiency of public–private digital services, and differences between developed and developing countries. The study relies on secondary data obtained from international databases and applies descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and simple linear regression analysis to assess the relationships between digital maturity indicators and selected economic variables. The empirical results indicate a statistically significant positive relationship between higher levels of digital maturity in public administration and improved economic performance. Countries with higher EGDI and DDS values tend to achieve higher GDP per capita and stronger ICT sector development, while higher OECD Digital Government Index scores are associated with more efficient public–private digital services. The findings confirm that the digitalization of public administration reduces administrative burdens, shortens processing times, lowers operational costs, and improves the overall efficiency and quality of public services. In conclusion, the study demonstrates that the digital maturity of public administration represents a key determinant of contemporary economic development and a strategic instrument for enhancing national competitiveness, particularly in the context of global economic and technological transformation.
Keywords: digitalization, public administration, countries’ economic performance, GDP, national economy