Reuse of open data in Quebec: from economic development to government transparency

Date01 December 2021
Published date01 December 2021
DOI10.1177/0020852319884628
Subject MatterArticles
Article
International
Review of
Administrative
Sciences
Reuse of open data
in Quebec: from
economic development
to government
transparency
Christian Boudreau
E
´cole nationale d’administration publique, Canada
Abstract
Based on the history of open data in Quebec, this article discusses the reuse of these
data by various actors within society, with the aim of securing desired economic,
administrative and democratic benefits. Drawing on an analysis of government meas-
ures and community practices in the field of data reuse, the study shows that the
benefits of open data appear to be inconclusive in terms of economic growth. On
the other hand, their benefits seem promising from the point of view of government
transparency in that it allows various civil society actors to monitor the integrity and
performance of government activities. In the age of digital data and networks, the state
must be seen not only as a platform conducive to innovation, but also as a rich field of
study that is closely monitored by various actors driven by political and social goals.
Points for practitioners
Although the economic benefits of open data have been inconclusive so far, govern-
ments, at least in Quebec, must not stop investing in opening up their data. In terms of
transparency, the results of the study suggest that the benefits of open data are suffi-
ciently promising to continue releasing government data, if only to support the evalu-
ation and planning activities of public programmes and services.
Corresponding author:
Christian Boudreau, E
´cole nationale d’administration publique (E
´NAP), 555, boulevard Charest Est, Que
´bec,
G1K 9E5, Canada.
Email: christian.boudreau@enap.ca
International Review of Administrative
Sciences
!The Author(s) 2020
Article reuse guidelines:
sagepub.com/journals-permissions
DOI: 10.1177/0020852319884628
journals.sagepub.com/home/ras
2021, Vol. 87(4) 855–869

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