Political Economy of e-Development

Last week I attended a World Bank presentation on its new book Information and Communications for Development 2006: Global Trends and Policies. I am still waiting for my copy to come in the mail, but the reviewers have been unanimous that it is a significant contribution to the field.

The panel discussing the book made the point repeatedly that we need better indicators and better information on ICT for Development. The best available data to date has been on telecommunications and Internet penetration. There is some data available on computer penetration. We need better information on the use of ICT. What is the content being disseminated via the media? What is the capacity of people in developing countries to use the connectivity that they have, in the sense of the complementary skills, knowledge and understanding of the technology that they have developed? How are ICT technology and nfrastructure being used in various sectors of developing nations at different economic levels? Importantly, what are the economic, social, and political impacts of the technology investments?

The World Bank has ICT projects in some 80 countries, with a $3 billion portfolio. They are serious about the need for better information. The report includes results from a survey of ICT applications in 20,000 SME's in 56 countries! Bank officials were especially emphatic about the need for information of how alternative policy measures influence the availability, use, and impact of ICT in developing nations.

Bjorn Wellenius caught my attention especially when he mentioned the need for more knowledge on the political economy of development of the ICT sector. I too think this is a critical area of knowledge for donor agencies. Indeed my interest was visible many years ago in a chapter in a book edited by Chip Mann and Steve Ruth.

I don't know of much work in this field. There is a book from the 1980's in which political scientists looked at the introduction of microcomputers:

Microcomputers in African Development: Critical Perspectives by Suzanne Grant Lewis, Joel Samoff (Editors)

It is out of print, but apparently one can still find used copies for sale.

Nagy Hanna is doing a book on the process involved in the production of the e-Sri Lanka project for the World Bank which should soon be available, and which contains some useful materials.

A team of people lead by Ernie Wilson has produced a book titled Negotiating the Net which has case studies of the processes by which the Internet came to Africa. It is soon to be published, but drafts are available online.

The World Dialog on Regulation of Networked Economies has some case studies online of telecommunication regulation in developing nations.

Donors and factions in developing nations that seek to improve the rate of ICT innovation and dissemination, and to improve the impacts of the technology on development and poverty, must recognize that they are embarked on a political effort. There will be winners and losers! Government policy, regulations and institutions play a critical role in the sector. Government behavior is by definition policital, and it is critically important to enlist stakeholders to promote the political changes desired, to keep others neutral, and to neutralize opposition to needed changes. Indeed, the behavior of donor organizations themselves can be illuminated in inportant ways using political approaches. Making a good analytic case is an important first step, but it is far from sufficient. The ICT for Development community needs more and better information on the political approaches that have and has not worked to date? We need to know what circumstances are propitious for what approaches, and why some approaches that seemed reasonable have failed.