The Roles and Policies of Governments

Abstract

The policies of governments leading to planning and implementation are crucial to the success of ICT initiatives and improvement of ICT usage and productivity in nations and sub-national units in particular states, provinces, and prefectures. National government policies are discussed, emphasizing the exemplary nations of Sweden, Japan, and the U.S. An unsettled policy area involves the key issue of net neutrality, which is discussed including how it impacts the book’s model. Two exceptional state and city initiatives are examined, emphasizing the impact of energetic local and state governments on citizen’s ICT usage. Based on state-level findings in four earlier book chapters, nine practical recommendations are made for national governments in stimulating ICT usage country-wide. Several limitations of government’s role are examined including resistance of the disadvantaged and untoward incursions on privacy and freedom. The case study is examined of Rwanda’s national government ambitious policy initiative and mostly successful implementation to raise its ICT from the worldwide nearly the lowest worldwide level to mid-range, with reference made to book findings.