Although there is much research about Open Government Data (OGD), comprehensive evaluations of OGD policy impacts remain sparse. This study addresses this gap by empirically examining the alignment between OGD policy objectives and real-world outcomes across 337 Chinese municipalities.
A typology of OGD policy objectives is developed and used to evaluate OGD policies and their impact in different geographical regions.
The analysis revealed a hierarchy of outcomes where “technical support” goals yield higher impacts than “innovative value”, whereas the latter is often the goal of OGD initiatives. Regional disparities also emerge, with Eastern cities outperforming traditional industrial areas.
These findings underscore that policy design does not guarantee expected outcomes, especially under varying regional contexts. Policy-makers should better address local characteristics and develop targeted policy strategies and effective resource allocation.
Evaluation of OGD policy impacts
Proposed a typology of OGD policy objectives
Policies have varied effectiveness and impact
Regional disparities in policy impacts were found
Policies should be customized for the regional situation to increase impact
