E-Government in Germany

In the area of e-government, the situation is better than for e-learning. In the year 2004, the percentage of public services accessible online in Germany (47%) was just under the EU average of around 50%4. However it is worth noting that certain countries like Sweden (74%) had a clear edge over Germany’s development status in the year 2004. Expert opinion suggests a similar level will not be attained in Germany until the year 2015 (Figure 32).

Figure 32:		Growth in online availability of public services in Germany through 2015 (experts from government agencies)

The greatest benefit by far of e-government is the increased convenience and speed with which public services can be accessed by the public. Over 90% of the experts from government agencies consulted agree with this notion to a high or very high degree. Other benefits that e-government brings are modernization and reduced bureaucracy (around 61%), increased administrative efficiency (around 57%), better quality of public services (around 52%) and better rapport with the public (around 43%).

Figure 33:		Benefits of e-government (experts from government agencies)

As far as the central benefits of e-government are concerned, consumers and experts consulted are primarily in agreement. Nearly three quarters of respondents expect more convenience and speed from government agencies as a result. Around 63% anticipate e-government will deliver higher-quality service and similarly, more than 60% are confident to a high or very high degree of an increase in efficiency. However, only around half of respondents are of the view that e-government will make administrative processes easier to understand (Figure 34).

Figure 34:		Consumer opinions of e-government (consumers)

Due to the substantial benefits that e-government generates for government agencies and the public, all necessary efforts must be taken in this area to maximize the potential of broadband Internet. There is a particularly pressing need in Germany to reduce the level of bureaucracy. Not least, an efficient and high-quality public administration will improve the appeal of Germany as a business location and help it keep abreast of other countries in the globally competitive marketplace.