What makes e-participation in urban governance effective? Evidence from the government online message board in China, 2011–2021

Globally, the importance of public participation in urban development is increasingly being emphasised, with technological advancement driving a transition from offline engagement to electronic participation (e-participation). However, achieving effective e-participation, particularly within specific governance contexts, remains a critical policy and practical challenge. Existing research into the factors influencing e-participation effectiveness often lacks a comprehensive analytical framework. Building on persuasion theory, the present research develops a novel framework integrating information, context and actor factors to test participation effectiveness, conceptualised through the lens of government responsiveness and encompassing both the presence and quality of the response. Leveraging a dataset of approximately 1,200,000 public opinions and governmental responses sourced from China's Government Online Message Board (2011−2021), the research investigates the status quo in public e-participation in urban governance across different provincial-level administrative divisions in China, as well as the key factors that impact effective e-participation. The results show that information (time, length, type, and topic), context (built, economic, institutional, and media environment), and actor (administrative level and geographic location) are key factors that contribute to whether and when governments respond. The research provides both a comprehensive assessment tool for e-participation effectiveness and actionable policy insights for optimising e-participation platforms, enhancing governmental accountability and promoting responsive urban governance.