Smart City Governance in Developing Countries: A Systematic Literature Review (2001.10173v1)

Abstract: Smart cities that make broad use of digital technologies have been touted as possible solutions for the population pressures faced by many cities in developing countries and may help meet the rising demand for services and infrastructure. Nevertheless, the high financial cost involved in infrastructure maintenance, the substantial size of the informal economies, and various governance challenges are curtailing government idealism regarding smart cities. This review examines the state of smart city development in developing countries, which includes understanding the conceptualisations, motivations, and unique drivers behind (and barriers to) smarty city development. A total of 56 studies were identified from a systematic literature review from an initial pool of 3928 social sciences literature identified from two academic databases. Data were analysed using thematic synthesis and thematic analysis. The review found that technology-enabled smart cities in developing countries can only be realised when concurrent socioeconomic, human, legal, and regulatory reforms are instituted. Governments need to step up their efforts to fulfil the basic infrastructure needs of citizens, raise more revenue, construct clear regulatory frameworks to mitigate the technological risks involved, develop human capital, ensure digital inclusivity, and promote environmental sustainability. A supportive ecosystem that encourages citizen participation, nurtures start-ups, and promotes public-private partnerships needs to be created to realise their smart city vision.

Smart City Governance in Developing Countries: A Systematic Literature Review

The paper under review conducts a systematic literature review focusing on the development and governance of smart cities within developing economies. This investigation addresses the multifaceted challenges and drivers affecting smart city initiatives in these contexts. The core contributions are the identification of key driving factors, the delineation of barriers particular to developing nations, and the provision of nuanced policy recommendations for enhancing smart city development.

The paper synthesizes findings from 56 studies sourced from 3928 initial articles, originating from social sciences literature and obtained via Scopus and Web of Sciences databases. The authors employ thematic synthesis and thematic analysis, robust methodologies that enable them to extract and categorize heterogeneous data into discernible themes.

Conceptualization and Motivations

The paper efficiently navigates through diverse definitions and conceptual frameworks of smart cities, which, despite notable heterogeneity, commonly underscore the pivotal role of cutting-edge technology, especially ICT and IoT, as foundational components. In the context of developing countries, smart city initiatives are predominantly driven by four main goals: enhancing government efficacy in public service delivery, improving the quality of life for citizens, fostering inclusive governance, and integrating vulnerable populations into urban developmental frameworks.

The paper argues that to realize the full potential of smart cities in developing countries, it is imperative to synchronize technological advancements with socioeconomic reforms, legal and regulatory updates, and human capital development. This assertion underpins the insight that smart cities must transcend pure technological integration and encompass comprehensive participatory governance structures.

Key Drivers and Barriers

The review identifies eight significant drivers for smart city development: government financing capacity, robust regulatory environments, technology infrastructure readiness, human capital availability, economic stability, active citizen engagement, private sector participation, and the creation of ecosystems that nurture innovation. These drivers are essential, but the interplay amongst them and the contextual conditions in which they operate are critical to successfully transitioning into smart cities.

In parallel, the paper highlights ten prevalent barriers that impede smart city development in these nations. These encompass budget constraints, lack of investment in basic infrastructure, technology-related infrastructure deficits, fragmented authority, insufficient governance frameworks, inadequacy of skilled human capital, a lack of inclusivity, environmental concerns, deficient citizen participation, and technological illiteracy among citizens. These barriers underline the complex socio-political environments within which developing countries operate and the resultant hindrances they face in adopting smart city paradigms equivalent to their developed counterparts.

Implications and Future Directions

The theoretical and practical implications of this paper resonate with the necessity for a more inclusive, economically sustainable, and environmentally conscious approach to urban development in emerging economies. It provides a sound appreciation of the contextual challenges and offers an insightful foundation for subsequent empirical investigations into the governance structures that successfully address smart city development barriers. Moreover, it suggests paths for further research, particularly in empirical case-paper exploration at both country and city levels for understanding the contextual governance dynamics.

To conclude, the paper extends substantial contributions to the understanding of smart city development within developing nations, identifying the multifarious challenges and offering a template that can guide policymakers in crafting context-sensitive strategies that are essential for sustainable urban growth in the 21st century.