Impact of Data Governance on the Quality of Government Economic Decision-Making and Its Implications for the Development of the Digital Economy

Abstract

The expansion of the digital economy has intensified the role of data in government economic decision-making; however, it remains unclear how data is actually incorporated into the decision-making process and what effects it has on the outcomes of these decisions. This study, using a qualitative approach and a case study method, examined how data is used in three types of government economic decisions: regulation of digital activities, financial and tax support for digital firms, and public investment in digital infrastructure. Research data were collected through interviews with policymakers, data experts, and executive managers, as well as through analysis of official decision-making documents. The results showed that in regulatory decisions, data were primarily used to identify the existence of a problem and the need for intervention, and played a limited role in shaping the content of regulations. In support decisions, data served as the basis for identifying eligible entities and allocating resources; however, the time lag between data production and implementation, as well as the lack of clarity regarding the source and timing of the data in the decision text, led to revisions and delays in policy implementation. In investment decisions, feasibility data formed the basis for cost-benefit estimations, but the data assumptions underlying these estimations were not reflected in the final resolution text and diverged from real data during the implementation phase. The findings indicated that data were present in all three domains, but their usage differed, and these differences led to varying implementation outcomes. This study shows that the impact of data on the development of the digital economy operates through government economic decisions and depends on how data is incorporated into the decision text and the implementation process.                                                                                  

Keywords: Data governance, economic decision-making, digital economy, economic regulation, support policies, public investment, data-driven policymaking, decision quality.