電子政府と地域の活性化  [in Japanese] E-government and Activation of Local Autonomies  [in Japanese]

In recent years, as information technologies develop, the movement toward constructing the electronic government (e-government) is becoming active. By e-governments, we can increase efficiency of administration and observe the action of administration more easily. And as the result, it is said that administrative action of local autonomies will be more active and democratic. The Japanese government announced "The E-japan Strategy" and "The E-japan Strategy 2002". They aimed to realize almost all administrative procedure can be followed on-line by 2003, not only about the central government, but also all of the local autonomies. Certainly, e-government may have many useful fields, but many problems also exist. Particularly, according to the investigation by Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications, most local government is not so eager for constructing e-government. It is because of the talented people, or capacity of local autonomies. So, it can be said hasty to construct e-government without taking some measures to reinforce capacity of local autonomies, such as consolidation of municipalities.