How Government Can Unlock Economic Benefits from Open Data: Part I

Everybody understands how open data makes government more transparent. But the economic value is less clear.

"We believe government can spur value creation at all levels of society." McKinsey Consulting

Governments that have succeeded in turning open data into an economic benefit are not only reliable, but also achieve a series of benchmarks that set them apart from others. These are the "trend setters."

In Duluth, Minn., open data helped city residents decide if the local bus offers a better alternative to driving. The result: Bus ridership is up 12 percent, traffic congestion is down and the cost of transportation has dropped for many passengers. In 2012, San Francisco opened up access to real-time transit data, resulting in 22 percent fewer 311 calls, saving the city $1 million.

by Tod Newcombe

Full Story: http://www.govtech.com/data/How-Government-Can-Unlock-Economic-Benefits-from-Open-Data-Part-I.html