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Development Gateway's Special Coverage on ICT for Poverty Reduction & Economic Growth
From: opetrov@worldbank.org
Subject: [DG ICT for Development] Special Coverage on ICT for
Poverty Reduction & Economic Growth
Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2003 20:57:36 -0400
Dear Members of the ICT for Development community on the Gateway!
We have prepared for you a special coverage on the role of ICT for
Poverty Reduction & Economic Growth.
This year Spring Meetings of the World Bank and IMF are taking place
on April 12-13. They focus on the Millennium Development Goals, such
as poverty reduction. According to World Bank President James
Wolfensohn, "the purpose of these meetings is to retain attention on
the other war which is going on, the war against poverty." The
Meetings thus provide an opportune moment for us to highlight the
role of information and communication technologies (ICT) in reducing
poverty and promoting economic growth. Concern for that topic is, of
course, the most important common denominator for the community we
are building around this topic page.
We, the 3276 members of this community (as of 11 April 2003), have
jointly contributed over 4,000 resources to the meta-data base
serving our community. A large number of these provide either micro-
or macro-analyses relevant to this topic. Some are linked on this
page. We have also added several new essays on the topic, as Features
to this highlight.
This Highlight is the first in our special series on the role of ICTs
for Achieving Millennium Development Goals.
Can ICTs fuel economic growth? Can ICTs help directly and
significantly reduce poverty? Is there a conclusive evidence? Which
specific projects or studies can provide a definitive answer? There
are different opinions on this issue. Read and discuss the various
perspectives that we are presenting to you in this special coverage:
http://www.developmentgateway.org/ict/poverty
John Daly, one of our editors, has provided an essay that places ICTs
within the more general topic of technology innovation and its effect
on economic growth. The essay seeks to provide an overview of macro-
economic approaches to the role of ICT in development, and micro-
analytic approaches to the issues of poverty reduction. The essay
concludes that ICTs can contribute to economic growth when a
country's policies and institutions are conducive to such growth and
to technological innovation. The essay recognizes that the most wired
nations have generally seen income distribution become more unequal,
and suggests that ICTs will reduce poverty only in the presence of
pro-poor policies and institutions.
+ Read John's essay at:
http://www.developmentgateway.org/node/133831/sdm/docview?docid=495495
A contrarian view, provided by Charles Kenny (World Bank) from a
macro perspective, suggests potentially negative implications for the
impact of the Internet on developing countries. Any particular,
invented, technology is likely to have little impact, a view
supported by empirical evidence of the effects of past information
revolutions on least developed countries (LDCs). LDCs also appear ill-
prepared to benefit from the Internet related opportunities.
+ Read Charles's paper at:
http://www.developmentgateway.org/node/133831/sdm/blob?pid=3951
Maria Fernanda Trujillo (Tulane University) looks at poverty and
indicators of ICT infrastructure from the macro-level. She
demonstrates the strong correlation between an index measuring the
overall electrical, telecommunications, computer, and Internet
infrastructure and the human development index (HDI). She further
demonstrates the correlation between the rate of improvement of the
HDI and a Core Information Technology Penetration Index. Hers is
perhaps a more optimistic view.
+ Read Maria's paper at:
http://www.developmentgateway.org/node/133831/sdm/docview?docid=261236
Simone Cecchini (UN ECLAC)together with Christopher Scott focuses on
poverty reduction. His concern is the concentration of ICT benefits
among the urban, educated, and affluent, to the detriment of the
rural poor. Using India as an example, he examines the access to
communications technology, emphasizing the importance of radio, and
the almost complete absence of the Internet in rural areas. Examples
of Indian ICT projects illustrate economic and health service
opportunities provided through technology, technology-based
empowerment to deal better with government, and added security
through technologically enhanced access to micro-finance. He goes on
to consider how affordable, available telecommunications can be
provided in rural areas. He concludes that successful ICT projects
are characterized by local ownership and participation.
+ Read Simone and Christopher's paper at:
http://www.developmentgateway.org/node/133831/redir?item_id=307733&url
=%2 fdownload%2f181634%2fcecchini_scott_ICT%2epdf
An essay by Cornelio Hopmann (Nicaragua DG) on ICT and poverty
complements the others. His is a cautionary view. Analysis at the
organizational level, based on his work in Nicaragua, casts doubts on
some of the rosy predictions for e-commerce as a means of alleviating
poverty. Emphasizing the fundamental differences between societies
based on the written word and those based on the spoken word, Hopmann
finds that radio and local TV are not only more affordable
alternatives to the Internet, but often more culturally appropriate
in developing countries. He tags "empowerment" as too often a
buzzword. Only by major reengineering will businesses in developing
countries really be able to benefit from ICTs.
+ Read Cornelio's essay at:
http://www.developmentgateway.org/node/133831/sdm/docview?docid=504285
We hope these "five easy pieces" will stimulate you to explore more
fully the wealth of resources on ICT, social and economic
development, and poverty reduction. Let us know what you think about
the subject!
+ Share your OPINION about the issues discussed in this Special!
http://www.developmentgateway.org/node/133831/bboard/message?message_i
d=5 05292&forum_id=225450&mode=t
+ Please contribute more knowledge resources on ICT, Poverty and
Growth to our community's knowledge base:
http://www.developmentgateway.org/ict/browser/?keyword_list=505328
+ Credits: This special coverage was prepared by John Daly and other
members of DG ICT for Development editorial and advisory team and
edited by Pat Daly. Thanks to all who contributed! But special thanks
go to John Daly who did the lion's share of work!
+ To learn more about how to participate in our ICT for Development
community click here:
http://www.developmentgateway.org/node/133831/sdm/docview?docid=309249
Thank you!
Oleg Petrov, Editor, ICT for Development, Development Gateway Tel.:
202 473 8861 Fax: 202 614 1169 1818 H Street NW Washington DC 20433
USA Email: opetrov@worldbank.org
http://www.developmentgateway.org/ict
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