Mossberger's Contributions to Digital Citizenship and Public Policy
The intersection of technology, governance, and social equity has been a central theme in the scholarly work of Mossberger. Through a series of influential books and peer-reviewed articles, Mossberger has examined how information technology affects the social fabric of society and how policy ideas spread across governmental systems.
Key Facts
- Fellowship: Named a Fellow of the American National Academy of Public Administration in 2016.
- Core Concept: Defined "digital citizenship" to measure an individual's ability to use internet technology effectively.
- Major Recognition: Co-authored one of the 75 most influential articles in the history of The Public Administration Review.
- Award-Winning Research: Received the 2005 Best Paper Award from the American Political Science Association's Public Policy Section.
Research on Policy Diffusion and Governance
Early in her career, Mossberger focused on the mechanics of how policy ideas move between different jurisdictions, a process known as policy diffusion. In her 2000 book, The Politics of Ideas and the Spread of Enterprise Zones, she analyzed the adoption of enterprise zones—designated areas intended to attract business through incentives—across five U.S. states between 1981 and 1993: Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, and Virginia.
This research provided deeper insights into the dynamics of decision-making within a federalist system. Mossberger explored whether these governmental decisions were rational, boundedly rational (decisions made with limited information and cognitive capacity), or anarchic.
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Defining Digital Citizenship and Addressing Inequality
Mossberger has dedicated significant scholarship to the concept of digital citizenship, which describes the extent to which individuals can regularly and effectively utilize internet-related technology. This work moves beyond the simple "digital divide"—the gap between those with and without internet access—to examine the actual capacity of people to use these tools.
In the 2013 book Digital Cities: The Internet and the Geography of Opportunity, co-authored with Caroline Tolbert and William Franko, the authors highlight how information inequities are developing in America, potentially creating lasting impacts on the country's social fabric. They provide specific policy suggestions to foster more equal digital citizenship.
Other notable contributions to this field include Digital Citizenship: The Internet, Society and Participation (2008), which was recognized as one of the top 20 social science titles of the year by the American Library Association, and Virtual Inequality: Beyond the Digital Divide (2003).
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Academic Impact and Recognition
Mossberger's research has earned prestigious accolades from both academic institutions and industry leaders. Her 2006 paper, "The Effects of E-Government on Trust and Confidence in Government," co-authored with Caroline J. Tolbert, is recognized as a "Classic Paper" by Google Scholar and remains one of the most influential pieces ever published in The Public Administration Review.
Additionally, her 2005 work, "Race, Place, and Information Technology," was honored by the American Political Science Association. Beyond journals, her expertise has been cited in prominent media outlets including the Chicago Tribune, FiveThirtyEight, Vocativ, and The Week.
| Year | Title | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | The Politics of Ideas and the Spread of Enterprise Zones | Policy diffusion in five U.S. states |
| 2003 | Virtual Inequality: Beyond the Digital Divide | Inequality in technology access and use |
| 2008 | Digital Citizenship: The Internet, Society and Participation | Internet use and social participation |
| 2012 | The Oxford Handbook of Urban Politics | Urban political dynamics |
| 2013 | Digital Cities: The Internet and the Geography of Opportunity | Digital citizenship and information equity |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is digital citizenship according to Mossberger?
Digital citizenship is a concept developed by Mossberger to capture the degree to which individuals are capable of using internet-related technology regularly and effectively.
What did Mossberger study regarding enterprise zones?
She studied how the concept of enterprise zones spread across Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, and Virginia from 1981 to 1993, using the tools of policy diffusion to analyze decision-making in a federalist system.
Which of her works is considered a "Classic Paper"?
The 2006 article "The Effects of E-Government on Trust and Confidence in Government," co-authored with Caroline J. Tolbert, is recognized as a Classic Paper by Google Scholar.
What professional honor did Mossberger receive in 2016?
In 2016, Mossberger was named a Fellow of the American National Academy of Public Administration.
How does Mossberger view the current state of digital equity in America?
Through her work in Digital Cities, she suggests that America is falling short in providing equal capacities for internet use, leading to information inequities that could deeply impact the nation's social fabric.