Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p>Why do countries with similar institutional quality exhibit divergent human development outcomes? This study examines whether e-governance mediates the institutional quality–human development relationship and whether digital readiness and income moderate this pathway. Using cross-country data from 39 Asian economies and a moderated-mediation framework, we find that institutional quality does not directly translate into human development; rather, its association operates indirectly through e-governance mechanisms, with the indirect effect accounting for approximately 72% of the total institutional effect on HDI. However, contrary to common assumptions, digital readiness does not significantly moderate the institutional-governance relationship, nor does income significantly moderate the governance-development relationship. These null findings suggest the pathway may be more uniform across contexts than assumed, or aggregate measures mask subnational heterogeneity. By identifying governance mechanisms as an intermediate channel and transparently reporting null moderation findings, this study moves beyond reduced-form accounts and emphasises the importance of reporting null results. The findings carry cautionary implications: governance mechanisms may matter more than enabling conditions at the macro level.</p>