The blockchain technology and the public governance

Abstract

Since its reappearance in 2008 through crypto-currencies, notably bitcoin, blockchain, a form of distributed ledger technology among others, has been widely adopted as an innovative solution in many fields, going beyond its initial use in the financial sector. It offers an answer to the insecurity and unreliability of traditional tools, while eliminating the need for a trusted third party. Governments have also shown an interest in this technology due to its multiple advantages, including decentralization, transparency and security. This study focused primarily on presenting a systematic literature review of the 16 references detailed later in the methodology, drawing up a summary of the studies selected and the conclusions drawn, in relation to the benefits and barriers of adopting blockchain in government services. The study shows that transparency and the reduction of administrative burdens are the main advantages sought by governments when implementing blockchain technology. The barriers are mainly technical, given the lack of expertise in the field, which is explained by the novelty of the technology and the reluctance of governments to adopt new technologies, as well as regulatory, which cannot be overlooked. This article also contains a state-of-the-art report on the use of blockchain by public and private entities in Morocco.

Keywords: blockchain, cryptocurrencies, government, decentralization, bitcoin.

JEL Classification: O30

Paper type: Theoretical Research