Public Service Digitalization Policy as a Tool for Efficiency and Digital Sovereignty (Global Experience and Kazakhstan)

Abstract

The article examines public service digitalization policy as a tool for improving government efficiency and, simultaneously, as a mechanism for ensuring digital sovereignty. The research problem lies in the methodological gap arising because these two dimensions are most often studied separately in the literature. The study is based on a comparative analysis of international experience, institutional analysis, and a case study of Kazakhstan; the analysis includes digital state models of Estonia, Singapore, South Korea, and European Union countries, with the comparison built on an original composite index developed from eight criteria. The paper examines the managerial effects of digitalization, including reduced transaction costs, improved accessibility of public services, enhanced transparency of administrative procedures, and citizen-oriented governance. It also analyzes the impact of digitalization on digital sovereignty, particularly data governance systems, digital identity institutions, and infrastructure cyber resilience. The findings show that digitalization effectiveness depends on the institutional architecture of the digital state: although Kazakhstan has risen to 24th place in the UN E-Government Development Index (EGDI), the digital sovereignty dimension remains in a process of maturation. The article proposes a dual-contour model integrating managerial and sovereignty-based approaches, applicable to developing Kazakhstan's digital transformation strategies.