Electronic Government in Brazil - Measuring E-Gov Appropriation by Citizens and Enterprises

The use of information and communication technologies, particularly those related to the consolidation of the Internet as a social and business networking medium, has led governments to move forward in enabling the e-government. The aim of this effort has not only been to transform the future of governmental public service delivery, but also to promote democratic participation. The literature shows that depending on how the e-government is implemented and advertised to society, its applications have economic, social and political impacts. E-government implementation may foster active democratic participation, but depending on how it is implemented it may also prevent citizens and enterprises from using it for social and economic development. Based on the theoretical concepts defining the e-government and supported by an empirical approach, this article discusses the results of a nationwide survey conducted by CGI.br/NIC.br aimed at assessing the use of the e-government by Brazilian citizens and enterprises