Digital Governance in Mahalla Institutions: Methods of Applying Innovations in the Activities of Small Businesses and Private Entrepreneurs
Keywords:
digital governance, mahalla institutions, small business innovation, Uzbekistan, local self-governance, e-government, entrepreneurship.Abstract
This study investigates the intersection of digital governance and mahalla institutions in Uzbekistan, with a particular focus on how innovative technologies are being applied to support and transform the activities of small businesses and private entrepreneurs operating within these community structures. Mahallas, as the primary units of local self-governance in Uzbekistan, occupy a pivotal role in mediating between state institutions and individual citizens, and their digital transformation represents both a governance challenge and a developmental opportunity. Drawing on a mixed-methods research design that combines quantitative survey data collected from 150 mahalla administrators and 200 small business operators across six districts of Tashkent, alongside qualitative interviews and secondary data analysis, this paper presents empirical evidence on the current state of digital adoption, identifies the barriers to effective implementation, and analyses the impact of digitalisation on entrepreneurial performance. The findings reveal that while digital governance initiatives have yielded measurable improvements in administrative efficiency and business outcomes, significant disparities in adoption rates persist across districts, driven primarily by deficiencies in digital literacy, infrastructure gaps, and institutional inertia. The paper concludes with policy recommendations oriented towards accelerating equitable digital transformation within mahalla governance frameworks.
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