Impact of ICT on Governmental Administrations' Capacity to Combat Corruption: An Analysis of Asian Countries

Abstract

Technological advancements significantly influence global society, public administration, and the economy. Information and communication technology (ICT) has the potential to enhance government transparency and openness, thereby mitigating corruption. This study examined the use of ICT in the control of corruption. Further examined the economic factors (GDP per capita, cash Expense %GDP & trade openness index) and non-economic (investment & & rule of law) factors to evaluate the impact of ICT on managing corruption within the public sector. The sample of the study is panel data from 46 Asian countries spanning 26 years, from 1996 to 2021, by Pooled Mean Group-Autoregressive Distributed Lag (PMG-ARDL) methodology with STATA software. The findings support the existing body of knowledge regarding the positive impact of ICT on the control of corruption (CR). Further economic and non-economic factors are major contributors to the control of corruption with the use of ICT. The conclusions emphasize the need to accelerate government digitization and develop a comprehensive cloud computing strategy for the executive branch. Additionally, the analysis illustrates how ICT affects government efficiency and economic growth across Asia. A stronger legal framework may also reduce the perception of corruption. This indicates that ICT should be combined with organizational, structural, and pedagogical methods to combat corruption.