Title: The Impact of ICT Investments on Economic Development in Egypt
Authors: Sherif H. Kamel, Dina Rateb, Mohamed El-Tawil
Pages: 21 pp.
ISBN: 1681-4835
Source: EJISDC (2009) 36, 1, 1-21
Publisher: The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries (EJISDC)
Date published: 2009
Date accessed: 21/06/2009
Type of information: research paper
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
Since the mid 1980s, Egypt has realized significant growth in information and communication technology (ICT) usage across different sectors in the economy. However, in today’s global environment, the challenge no longer lies in accommodating the growth of the ICT sector that introduced changes that are arguably the most important since the industrial revolution. The essence is the diffusion of ICT across the society and ensuring that it furthers socioeconomic development. Managing this transformational process requires cooperation and partnerships between different stakeholders in the society to ensure steady and successful progress towards the goal of realizing a fully developed information society. Moreover, in order to generate economic development and growth, ICT need to be transformed into economic activities offering services, applications and content that create new markets, reduce costs and increase productivity. While ICT are generally adaptable; their effectiveness in addressing development issues still depends on their introduction, adoption, diffusion and adaptation within a healthy and encouraging regulatory environment. In that respect, the importance of ICT in socioeconomic development in Egypt was realized since 1999 leading to the allocation of ICT on the government agenda supported by the private sector and the civil society. This article addresses the recent efforts that were exerted in Egypt, as an emerging economy, in terms of building its ICT sector while analyzing the associated investments and their impact on economic development.

Title: Whose ICT Investment Matters to Economic Growth – Private or Public? The Malaysian Perspective
Authors: Mudiarasan Kuppusamy, Murali Raman, Geoffrey Lee
Pages: 19 pp.
ISBN: 1681-4835
Source: EJISDC (2009) 37, 7, 1-19
Publisher: The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries (EJISDC)
Date published: 2009
Date accessed: 21/06/2009
Type of information: research paper
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
Theoretical and empirical research on the economic benefits of ICT is represented in academic and policy-related publications worldwide. Most of these studies assess the impact of ICT in countries as a cohort and most conclude that ICT is indeed a key driver for economic growth. Nevertheless, we are of the opinion that there is room for more research on this issue, especially pertaining to developing countries such as Malaysia, in light of the extensive ICT-based investments undertaken by the country in recent years. Consequently, we examined the effect of ICT investment carried out by both the private and public sector on Malaysia’s economic growth over the period 1992 – 2006 using the ARDL econometrics approach. The empirical results suggest that ICT has had a significant impact on Malaysia’s economic growth during this period of time, suggesting good payoffs from the investment. Specifically, ICT investments made by the private sector seem to have contributed significantly to the country’s growth compared to investments made by the government. This implies that the private sector has adapted well to the various ICT-based policies implemented in the country over the years. This also shows that Malaysia’s economy is being driven by the private sector, especially by the manufacturing and wholesale industries. We are however of the opinion that in order to sustain economic growth leveraged against ICT, more concerted efforts need to be made in order to escalate ICT diffusion in the country. Such initiatives will ensure that the value potential of ICT investments in the economy is maximized, due to greater ICT-enabled community that will translate to escalated economic growth.

Title: Information and Communications for Development 2009: Extending Reach and Increasing Impact
Author:
Pages: pp.
ISBN:
Publisher: World Bank
Date published: 30/06/2009
Date accessed: 20/06/2009
Type of information: research publication
Language: English
On-line access: partially, some chapters in pdf
Abstract:
...takes an in-depth look at how ICT, and particularly broadband and mobile, are impacting economic growth in developing countries. The data section includes at-a-glance tables for 150 economies of the latest available data on ICT sector performance. Performance measures for access, affordability and applications in government and business are also introduced.

CHAPTERS

Select chapters will be available for download in PDF format after June 30.You can purchase the full report from World Bank Publications website.

* Table of Contents PDF (443Kb)

Part I

* Chapter 1: Overview PDF (550Kb) Available June 30, 2009 in English, Chinese, Spanish, Arabic, and French
* Chapter 2: Nothing Endures but Change: Thinking Strategically about ICT Convergence
* Chapter 3: Economic Impacts of Broadband
* Chapter 4: Advancing the Development of Backbone Networks in Sub-Saharan Africa
* Chapter 5: How Do Manual and E-Government Services Compare? Experiences from India PDF (550Kb) Available June 30, 2009
* Chapter 6: National E-Government Institutions: Functions,Models, and Trends
* Chapter 7: Realizing the Opportunities Presented by the Global Trade in IT-Based Services

Part II

* Trends Analysis PDF (511Kb) Available June 30, 2009
* ICT Performance Measures: Methodology and Findings
o ICT Performance Measure Table
* User's Guide to ICT At-a-Glance Country Tables
* At-a-Glance Country Tables
* Key ICT Indicators for Other Economies, 2007

See also: Data, key findings, methodology