The Economist reports about government initiatives aimed at using blockchain technology in the public sector.

• Possible uses include land registries, identity-management systems, health-care records, or elections.
• Proponents expect the technology to improve efficiency and transparency and foster trust.
• Adoption requires significant investments.
• According to a survey “nine in ten government organisations say they plan to invest in blockchain technology to help manage financial transactions, assets, contracts and regulatory compliance by next year.”
• Sweden tests a blockchain-based land registry; Dubai’s government wants to completely shift to blockchain technology by 2020; Estonia stores health records and protects its shared government systems using blockchain-like technolog; Georgia’s land registry uses blockchain technology and has processed 160,000 transactions; Ukraine wants to become “one of the world’s leading blockchain nations,” not least to build trust between government and citizens.