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Understanding the policy implications of ICT for development
Information and communication technologies are thought by some to offer a new solution to world poverty.
It is argued that information and communication technologies (ICT) allow poor countries to ‘leap-frog’
traditional stages of development and become immediately engaged with the ‘new economy’. Such an
optimistic view requires appropriate government policies to facilitate this shift. Interventions required
would include improving access levels and quality of telecommunication and electricity infrastructure,
improved quality of education and numbers of those accessing education, and providing both direct
and indirect support to encourage local firms to become engaged with the global economy. Ironically,
these policies are consistent with current orthodox development policies currently pursued within the
‘traditional’ economy. This chapter therefore considers what exactly is new about ICT in terms of its
potential impact on the poor.
It is argued that information and communication technologies (ICT) allow poor countries to ‘leap-frog’
traditional stages of development and become immediately engaged with the ‘new economy’. Such an
optimistic view requires appropriate government policies to facilitate this shift. Interventions required
would include improving access levels and quality of telecommunication and electricity infrastructure,
improved quality of education and numbers of those accessing education, and providing both direct
and indirect support to encourage local firms to become engaged with the global economy. Ironically,
these policies are consistent with current orthodox development policies currently pursued within the
‘traditional’ economy. This chapter therefore considers what exactly is new about ICT in terms of its
potential impact on the poor.
History
Title of book
ICTs and sustainable solutions for the digital divide : theory and perspectivesChapter number
15Pagination
297 - 314Publisher
Information Science ReferencePlace of publication
Hershey, Pa.ISBN-13
9781615208005ISBN-10
1615208003Language
engPublication classification
B1 Book chapterCopyright notice
2011, IGI GlobalExtent
15Editor/Contributor(s)
J Steyn, G JohansonUsage metrics
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