Towards a comprehensive model of the digital economy
Citation:
Work data:
ISBN: 978-1-4503-0787-1Type of work: Communication
Categories:
e-Readiness | ICT4D | Information SocietyTags:
ictd2010Abstract:
In this research we test the hypothesis that institutional interests and lack of data have led to fragmented models to measure digital development, thus distorting policy design. A qualitative analysis was performed on 55 different models (including composite indices) that have been defined, applied and or/used to describe and measure digital development in the last years.
We will show that most of them can be grouped in two — the telecommunications and the e-readiness models — in which the representation of different categories of digital development are unbalanced, biased towards the supply side; they could notably be improved both in quantity (scope) and quality and are usually insufficient to assess the impact of public policies in fostering the Information Society or the use of ICTs for development.
We will state that a more comprehensive framework would improve such models and help in the adoption of public policies that would lead to higher stages of digital development.
