From the issuing of ID cards and permits, to the dispensing of subsidies and the collection of taxes, Latin American and Caribbean governments manage between five and 20 transactional services per person each year. These services are often slow and cumbersome, requiring citizens to make multiple trips to government offices and using up large amounts of their time. As a result, … [Read more...] about How Digital Technology Can Deliver Government Services More Cost Effectively
Benjamin Roseth
Benjamin Roseth is a Senior Specialist in Modernization of the State at the Inter-American Development Bank. He coordinates analytical work for the Digital Cluster of the Innovation in Citizen Services Division, including impact evaluations and other quantitative and qualitative research. Previously, as a Young Professional at the IDB, he worked in the Office of Evaluation and Oversight. Prior to the IDB, he was a strategy consultant at Deloitte and a Junior Associate in the Public Management Unit of the World Bank. He holds an M.A. in International Relations with a specialization in Economic Development from Columbia University, a B.A. in International Relations from Tufts University and a B.A. in Music from the New England Conservatory. He is from Seattle, USA.
Trust: An Obstacle and an Opportunity for Digital Transformation
It is well understood that digital transformation can build trust between citizens and the state. It improves service delivery, transparency, and the efficiency of public expenditure—all of which contributes to greater citizen trust in government. But trust is also critical to allowing the process of digital transformation to occur in the first place, and Latin America, the … [Read more...] about Trust: An Obstacle and an Opportunity for Digital Transformation
Digitalization of Public Services: A Panacea?
Digitalization might seem to be the solution to many ills facing society. From the virtual classrooms that provide education to children in remote areas, to the telemedicine that facilitates access to health care and crowdsourcing to promote citizen participation in policy debates, it might even seem like a panacea. But digitalization's effectiveness depends on the ability … [Read more...] about Digitalization of Public Services: A Panacea?