Ideal Government Europe

29 Oct 2005

What can we learn from E-stonia?

Back in 1994 Estonia adopted a Flat Tax, as they looked brightly into a post-Soviet future. Prime Minister Mart Laar (nice article here) saw the Flat Tax as being part of a broader shift in the relationship between government and the people.

Crucial to these reforms, is the use of information technology, and finding ways to simplify and facilitate the citizen’s obligations to the state. This year 73% of the population filed their tax returns online - either from home or at kiosks in banks. Refunds were paid within 1 week, whilst those that owed money to the Treasury had 5 months to cough up.

The policy reforms are not gimmicks either, they’re embedded within geniune investment to make IT work. The e-Governance Academy trains civil servants and policy makers from Estonia and surrounding countries.
According to this article by Rick Perera:

“To wander the medieval streets of Tallinn, capital of the tiny Baltic country of Estonia, is to take a trip back several centuries. But hidden among the Old Town’s fairytale Gothic spires is an experiment in 21st century government. Linnar Viik, IT adviser to the country’s prime minister, leads the way through elegant government offices, to a spanking new Cabinet meeting room. At each seat is a sleek NEC Corp. flat-screen monitor and a mouse. That’s it. No lawbooks, no notepads, not even a pen. We’re standing at the epicenter of the world’s first paper-free government......

You can find more articles at eGovernment Resource Centre | Estonia, and you can download a report: ”eGovernment in Estonia 2005”.pdf