ABSTRACT
This chapter concludes the findings of this book. The findings are summarized with respect to the two research questions asked at the outset of this study and substantiated with concrete examples of actions taken by some countries to promote e-participation. An effective political and regulatory environment that provides stronger information and communication technology (ICT) laws and contract enforcement promotes availability and usage of ICT across the public and private sectors and also individuals. Such an environment, in combination with political rights and civil liberties in a country also foster interpretive resources of participation leading to better skills and more ICT usage that improves e-participation. Further, every unit change in ICT affordability has a greater change in e-decision making than in e-consultation, which in turn is more than the change in e-information, and the difference in the effect size across the three stages is significant. This book has highlighted various dimensions of digital divide and how they impact e-participation. The theories of policy feedback and socio-technical premises are brought together in one model and used in a novel way to evaluate the difference in e-participation across countries.
