OPEN GOVERNMENT AND DIGITAL GOVERNMENT IN MEXICO AND NUEVO LEÓN: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ADVANCES AND SETBACKS (2018–2024)

This article comparatively examines the implementation of Gobierno Abierto [Open Government, OG] and Gobierno Digital [Digital Government, DG] in Mexico and in the state of Nuevo León between 2018 and 2024. Based on a mixed-methods approach—integrating documentary analysis of legal frameworks, action plans, and institutional metrics, along with the review of statistical indicators and digital platforms—the study evaluates the progress and limitations at both levels of government. The findings show that while OG has faced regulatory setbacks in transparency and participation, DG has consolidated digitalization strategies with uneven results in interoperability, open data, and citizen experience. Nuevo León stands out for initiatives such as Llave NL and innovative municipal platforms, compared to a broader federal implementation that nonetheless shows lags in effectiveness and citizen trust. The article concludes that OG and DG are complementary but not equivalent concepts: the former oriented toward democratic co-creation and the latter toward technological efficiency in delivering public value. The research contributes evidence for rethinking public policies that better articulate both dimensions, identifying opportunities for improvement in transparency, participation, and digitalization as key pillars of a more open and inclusive state.