{
  "title": "Welcome to e-Estonia: Where Virtual Residents Outnumber Newborns",
  "publication": "IMF Blog, September 14, 2018",
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/en/blogs/articles/2018/09/14/welcome-to-e-estonia-where-virtual-residents-outnumber-newborns",
  "canonical": "https://www.imf.org/en/blogs/articles/2018/09/14/welcome-to-e-estonia-where-virtual-residents-outnumber-newborns",
  "overlayPath": "/en/blogs/articles/2018/09/14/welcome-to-e-estonia-where-virtual-residents-outnumber-newborns/index.md",
  "summary": "Estonia has integrated digital services into “nearly all aspects of life we lead: as a citizen, an entrepreneur, a government official,” according to Siim Sikkut, Estonia’s Chief Information Officer.",
  "sections": [
    {
      "heading": "Digitalization and efficiency",
      "content": "- Estonia has integrated digital services into “nearly all aspects of life we lead: as a citizen, an entrepreneur, a government official,” according to Siim Sikkut, Estonia’s Chief Information Officer.\n- The primary motivation and outcome of Estonia’s digitalization is efficiency: saving time and money by doing things “the digital way.”\n- Digital delivery of public services has helped boost public-sector performance and public trust in the state as an institution."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Start-up ecosystem and the Skype effect",
      "content": "- Estonia’s digital environment has supported the emergence of start-ups; entrepreneurs are often “born in Estonia” rather than merely attracted there.\n- Investment in science and research, plus an easy business environment and low bureaucracy, are cited as factors creating fertile ground for entrepreneurs.\n- Skype’s origins in Estonia (created there in 2003) contributed experienced entrepreneurs who demonstrate that companies can scale globally from Estonia."
    },
    {
      "heading": "e-Residency and scale",
      "content": "- Estonia has “35,000 now” e-residents.\n- “Each week we are getting more e-residents than are babies being born,” says Siim Sikkut, highlighting rapid uptake and international interest.\n- E-residency allows anyone in the world to virtually become Estonian, which Sikkut links to job creation, revenue generation, and growth for the country."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Cybersecurity and trust",
      "content": "- Cybersecurity is identified as “one of the biggest challenges for e-Estonia”; combating hackers and thwarting viruses is a daily priority.\n- Trust is presented as paramount: “Without trust, we won’t have the users, and we can’t build up the efficiency gains we have seen.”\n- The Estonian government’s delivery of efficiency and cybersecurity has helped build citizens’ faith in government despite global trends of declining trust."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Media format",
      "content": "- The content is presented as an interview/podcast with Siim Sikkut describing Estonia’s road to becoming a digital nation.\n\nThe Editors, September 14, 2018 — Welcome to e-Estonia: Where Virtual Residents Outnumber Newborns\n\n---\n\n\n References\n\n- https://www.imf.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/BLOG-1024x600-Estonia-tweaked-Skype-FULL-iStock-472042013.jpg\n- F&D article: E-stonia Takes Off\n- Estonia and the IMF\n\nSource: https://www.imf.org/en/blogs/articles/2018/09/14/welcome-to-e-estonia-where-virtual-residents-outnumber-newborns"
    }
  ],
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    "[Markdown version](/en/blogs/articles/2018/09/14/welcome-to-e-estonia-where-virtual-residents-outnumber-newborns/index.md)",
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    "Authors: The Editors",
    "Published: September 14, 2018",
    "Estonia has integrated digital services into “nearly all aspects of life we lead: as a citizen, an entrepreneur, a government official,” according to Siim Sikkut, Estonia’s Chief Information Officer.",
    "The primary motivation and outcome of Estonia’s digitalization is efficiency: saving time and money by doing things “the digital way.”",
    "Digital delivery of public services has helped boost public-sector performance and public trust in the state as an institution.",
    "Estonia’s digital environment has supported the emergence of start-ups; entrepreneurs are often “born in Estonia” rather than merely attracted there.",
    "Investment in science and research, plus an easy business environment and low bureaucracy, are cited as factors creating fertile ground for entrepreneurs.",
    "Skype’s origins in Estonia (created there in 2003) contributed experienced entrepreneurs who demonstrate that companies can scale globally from Estonia.",
    "Estonia has “35,000 now” e-residents.",
    "“Each week we are getting more e-residents than are babies being born,” says Siim Sikkut, highlighting rapid uptake and international interest.",
    "E-residency allows anyone in the world to virtually become Estonian, which Sikkut links to job creation, revenue generation, and growth for the country.",
    "Cybersecurity is identified as “one of the biggest challenges for e-Estonia”; combating hackers and thwarting viruses is a daily priority.",
    "Trust is presented as paramount: “Without trust, we won’t have the users, and we can’t build up the efficiency gains we have seen.”",
    "The Estonian government’s delivery of efficiency and cybersecurity has helped build citizens’ faith in government despite global trends of declining trust.",
    "The content is presented as an interview/podcast with Siim Sikkut describing Estonia’s road to becoming a digital nation.",
    "[https://www.imf.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/BLOG-1024x600-Estonia-tweaked-Skype-FULL-iStock-472042013.jpg](https://www.imf.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/BLOG-1024x600-Estonia-tweaked-Skype-FULL-iStock-472042013.jpg)",
    "[F&D article: E-stonia Takes Off](http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/2018/03/trenches.htm)",
    "[Estonia and the IMF](http://www.imf.org/en/Countries/EST)"
  ],
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}