Development Connections Unveiling the Impact of New Information Technologies

by Inter-American Development Bank; Chong, Alberto

• ISBN13: 9780230111943
• ISBN10: 0230111947
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-03-15
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

Summary

Development Connectionstakes stock of recent advances in what is broadly known as Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)cell phones, computers, and related Internet applications, as well as software advances that aim at improving the welfare of societies by empowering them. It is a comparative look at Latin America and ICTs in relation to the rest of the world and other countries in the region and the trends for widespread use of ICTs. In turn, the authors seek to discover how information and telecommunication technologies affect both the public and private sectors of the region and how they can optimize ICT returns to society. Projects focus on the use of ICTs for education, health, finance, environment, and labor. ICT trends are crucial to policy makers and ICT development is critical to the future of the region.

Author Biography

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), established in 1959 to support the process of economic and social development in Latin America and the Caribbean, is the main source of multilateral financing in the region. The IDB Group provides solutions to development challenges by partnering with governments, companies and civil society organizations, thus reaching its clients ranging from central governments to city authorities and businesses. It also offers research, advice and technical assistance to support key areas including education, poverty reduction and agriculture as well as cross-border issues such as trade, infrastructure and energy.

Table of Contents

List of Boxes	p. vii
List of Figures	p. ix
List of Tables	p. xv
Acknowledgments	p. xvii
About the Contributors	p. xxi
Preface	p. xxv
A Field of Dreams or a Dream Come True?	p. 1
The Region's Place in the Digital World: A Tale of Three Divides	p. 29
Banking on Technology for Financial Inclusion	p. 69
Rewiring Institutions	p. 105
Tech Fever in the Health Sector	p. 133
Computers in Schools: Why Governments Should Do Their Homework	p. 169
Help or Hindrance? ICT's Impact on the Environment	p. 213
Development.com: Using ICTs to Escape Poverty	p. 245
Notes	p. 273
References	p. 283
Index	p. 313
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