Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Internet And Public Policy, Helen Margetts

Helen Z Margetts

This article looks at the role of the Internet in policymaking, identifying potential policy effects of widespread use of the Internet by citizens, firms, governments and voluntary organizations. It considers how the Internet and Internet-enabled social change might impact upon each of the four 'tools' of government policy –– nodality, authority, treasure and organization –– and how it might impact upon the mix of tools that policymakers select. It suggests a number of values normally associated with the Internet –– innovation, trust, openness and equity –– that might be expected to emerge in policy trends. It discusses the implications of …