A dataset of the smart governance index for Chinese cities

This study develops and applies a comprehensive Smart Governance Index (SGI) to evaluate governance transformation across 296 Chinese cities from 2017 to 2023. Our framework integrates three critical dimensions of urban governance: the Value Objectives Sub-index (VOS) that establishes normative goals and strategic priorities; the System Applications Sub-index (SAS) that delivers governance services through operational platforms; and the Institutional-Technical Support Sub-index (ITSS) that provides the underlying infrastructure and organizational capacity.