Research on How Digital Technology Drives the Reduction of Burden and Empowerment in Grassroots Governance

A Case Study of Huai'an City's "Code-based Deliberation" Platform

Abstract

As the cornerstone of national governance, grassroots governance is currently generally confronted with the problems of heavy tasks and low efficiency. The root cause lies in the sharp contradiction between unlimited tasks and limited resources, which is specifically manifested in the sharp increase in affairs due to the downward shift of governance focus, the generalization of responsibilities, insufficient coordination between vertical and horizontal sectors, shortage of staffing, and weak power allocation. Against this backdrop, grassroots governance is undergoing a profound digital transformation. The state has actively promoted the "Internet + grassroots governance" model and data resource integration through a series of policies. Digital technology offers potential for reducing the burden and enhancing the capacity of grassroots governance. This study explores through the case of the "Ma Shang Yi" platform in Huai'an City how digital technology specifically functions to reduce the burden and enhance the capacity of grassroots governance, reveals its internal operational mechanism, and seeks a long-term path for the continuous improvement of grassroots governance efficiency.