This page will always have the most up-to-date version of the syllabus, class readings, topics for discussion and guest information.

If you are leading the discussion during a particular week, feel free to post discussion questions, additional references, etc.

 

1. Introduction to the class. [Jan 14]

 

I. Information Technologies and Economic Development

 

2. The New Economy: What is it? [Jan 28]

 

• Pohjola, M. 2002. The New Economy: facts, impacts and policies. Information economics and Policy 14: 133-144. Available at http://hkkk.fi/~pohjola/The%20New%20Economy.pdf
• Quah, D. 2001. Technology Dissemination and Economic Growth: Some Lessons for the New Economy (skip the technical appendix). CEP Discussion Papers No. 0522. Available at http://cep.lse.ac.uk/pubs/download/DP0522.pdf
• Cohen, S., DeLong, B., Zysman, J. 2000. Tools for thought” What is new and important about the “e-conomy”? BRIE Working Paper #138 (p. 1-40, the rest is optional). Available at http://e-conomy.berkeley.edu/publications/wp/wp138.pdf
•  Benkler, Y. 2006. The Wealth of Networks, Yale U. Press. Chapter 1. available from http://www.benkler.org/wealth_of_networks
• (In case you haven't read it yet..) Shapiro, C. and Varian, H. 1998. Information Rules, HBS press. (read at least chapter 1, available from class Blackboard)

 

Discussion Themes and Questions for Monday, 1/28/2008 (led by Stefanie and Hilary)

Part I: What is it that's really new in ICT?

    Things to consider: macro and micro perspective, consumption vs. production, any drastic changes, etc.

 

Part II: What are the visions of development embedded in these readings?

    Things to consider: Does growth necessarily equal development? The role of GDP, and specific region examples.

 

Part III: Specific angles that have to do with developing countries

    Things to consider: Role of things like Microsoft, Google, Second Life.  i.e. What are the implications for a country like Kenya?

 

*Note: Concepts and terms to be familiar with include public goods, productivity paradox, and the like (minus the heavy technical language in the appendix of the Quah article).

 

Guest:

Prof. Hernan Galperin will come during the second half of the class to discuss his work in Latin America with DIRSI

 

3. The New Economy and Development: The theory [Feb 4]

 

• Castells, Manuel. 1999. Information Technology, Globalization and Social Development. UNRISD Discussion Paper No. 114, September 1999. get it from google
• Steinmueller, E. (2001). ICTs and the possibilities for leapfrogging by developing countries. International Labour Review 140(2): 193-210. get it from google
• Rodríguez, F., &  Wilson, E. 2000.  Are Poor Countries Losing the Information Revolution?. infoDev Working Paper. get it from google
• The Global Information and Communications Technologies Department of the World Bank Group. 2000. The Networking Revolution: Opportunities and Challenges for Developing Countries. infoDev Working Paper. get it from google
• ITU. 2003. World Telecommunications Development Report. Chapter 4: ICTs and the Millennium Development Goals. Available at the ICTs and Poverty Reduction Workspace. get it from google

 

Discussion led by Mark and Lara

 

4. The New Economy and Development: The Evidence [Feb 11]

 

• Grace, J., Kenny, C., & and Qiang, C. 2001. Information and Communication Technologies and Broad-Based Development: A Partial Review of the Evidence. Available at http://www.tessproject.com/guide/pubs/telecom/ICT_&Broad_Based_Development.pdf
• Hewitt de Alcántara, C. 2001. The development divide in a digital age: An issues paper. UNRISD Discussion Paper, August. Available at http://www.eldis.org/static/DOC12667.htm

 

Discussion led by Jen and Debbie

 

5. ICT4D and Gender empowerment  [Feb 25]

 

• Huyer, Sophia & Sikoska, Tatjana (2003). Overcoming the Gender Digital Divide: understanding ICTs and their Potential for the Empowerment of Women - INSTRAW Research Paper Series No. 1

  Available from Google Scholar 

  or www.un-instraw.org/en/docs/gender_and_ict/Synthesis_Paper.pdf
• Hafkin, Nancy J (2002). Are ICTs Gender Neutral? A Gender Analysis of Six Case Studies of Multi-Donor ICT Projects.  Available from Google Scholar or www.un-instraw.org/en/docs/gender_and_ict/Hafkin.pdf
• Skim: Hafkin, Nancy J. , Gender Issues in ICT policy in developing countries. Available on Google Scholar or rwww.un.org/womenwatch/daw/egm/ict2002/reports/Paper-NHafkin.PDF

 

• Also review the following websites: http://www.learningpartnership.org/en/node/192

  http://gstgateway.wigsat.org/   especially the section http://gstgateway.wigsat.org/GAB/reports.shtml

   

Discussion led by Charlotte and Stefanie

 

6. Low-cost Technologies. [Mar 3]

 Required Readings:

• James, Jeffrey. 2003. The global information infrastructure revisited. Third World Quarterly 22(5): 813-822 (available through ProQuest).
• Best, M. 2003. The wireless revolution and universal access. In Trends in Telecommunications Reform. Geneva: ITU. Available at http://itc.mit.edu/itel/docs/2003/michael_best.pdf
• Galperin, Hernan, and François Bar, "The Microtelco Opportunity: Evidence

  from Latin America", Information Technologies and International Development

  3:2, 2006 Available at http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1162/itid.2007.3.2.73

 

Recomended Readings:

• Caspary, Georg, and O’Connor, David. 2003. Providing low-cost information technology access to rural communities in developing countries: What works? What pays? OECD Development Centre, July. Availabe at http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/13/52/7112502.pdf
• Kirkman, George S. 2001. Out of the labs and into the developing world: Using appropriate technologies to promote truly global Internet diffusion. Background paper prepared for the UNDP’s Human Development Report 2001, March. Available at http://www.cid.harvard.edu/ciditg/papers/Kirkman%20JHD%20article%20final.doc

 

Discussion led by Danielle &  Natasha (who needs a web page)

 

7. Mobile phones and developing countries [Mar 10]

• Donner, Jonathan. (forthcoming). Research Approaches to  Mobile Use in the Developing World: A Review of the Literature.  The Information Society 24(3). http://www.jonathandonner.com/mobiles_dev_world_TIS_forthcoming.pdf

• Aminuzzaman, Salahuddin. 2002. Cellular phones in rural Bangladesh: A study of the village pay phone
  of Grameen bank. In Electronic commerce for development, edited by A. Goldstein and D. O'Connor.
  Paris: OECD Development Centre Studies. pgs. 61-76.  Available at google books

• Look at the following article on the impact of cell phones on fishermen in Kerala (don’t let the math intimidate you, but try to understand what Jensen did and what he found)

  Jensen, R (2007), The Digital Provide: Information (Technology), Market Performance, and Welfare in the South Indian Fisheries Sector, Quarterly Journal of Economics, Vol. 122, No. 3, Pages 879-924. http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1162/qjec.122.3.87

• Scott, Nigel, Simon Batchelor, Jonathan Ridley, and Britt Jorgensen.  2004.  The Impact of Mobile Phones in Africa.  Prepared for the Commission of Africa.  Pages 1-15. http://213.225.140.43/english/report/background/scott_et_al_background.pdf

• This is a less than 10 page article that has a critical approach to Grameen.  It has been quoted often recently as others try to get their heads around Grameen Phone's effects. 

  Shaffer, Richard.  September 2007.  Unplanned Obsolescence.  Fast Company.com.  Issue 118. http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/118/unplanned-obsolescence.html
• Read this article which piggybacks on Richard Shaffer's commentary.  Scott Edward Anderson approaches the Grameen Phone's effects differently. 

  Anderson, Scott Edward.  October 2007.  Social Entrepeneurs:  The Village Phone Project; Since When is Obsolescence Obsolete?  The Green Skeptic.

  http://greenskeptic.blogspot.com/2007/08/social-entrepreneurs-is-village-phone.html

   

   

  Optional and Recommended Experiences: 

•  Mobile Active website: a resource for activists using mobile technology worldwide, it also has articles and an extensive blog on development projects using mobile technologies http://mobileactive.org/

 

• As a break from reading and to consider other uses of mobile phones 4 Dev., check out the Mobile Active YouTube playlist of projects using mobile phones in Global Development.  In particular, look at the following: 

  1) World Bank WIZZIT video describing the use of mobile phones for banking in South Africa

  2) The World Bank - Village Phone Nigeria: uses the Grameen Village phone model and takes it to Nigeria

  3) Teleuse@BOP (part 2): A study of mobile phone and telecom use among poorer populations in Southeast Asia

• A presentation by Iqbal Quadir, founder of Grameen Phone on "the power of the mobile phone to end poverty".  http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/79
• If you'd like to see excellent photos of the Village Phone program in Uganda, go here:  http://www.janchipchase.com/blog/archives/2007/01/village_phone.html and if you have time, go to the "phone" tag.  There are twelve photo series dedicated to the use of phones.  Extraordinary!

   

Discussion led by Kristy & Sara

 

 

8. ICTs and Poverty Reduction. [Mar 24]

 

On  that day, please plan to attend the Annenberg Research Seminar:  Dean Wilson and Dr. Rahul Tongia from Carnegie Mellon University will speak on "Multiple and Growing Costs of Network Exclusion." (ASC 207 at noon)

 

Final Reading List (as of March 16, 2008):

• Spence, R. 2003. Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) for Poverty Reduction: When, Where and How?. Pages 14-65 (but feel free to browse the whole thing) Available at http://network.idrc.ca/uploads/user-S/10618469203RS_ICT-Pov_18_July.pdf

   

• Kenny, Charles. 2002. Information and communication technologies for direct poverty alleviation: Costs and benefits. Development Policy Review 20(2): 141-157 (available through FirstSearch).
• (Optional) Adeya, C. 2002. ICTs and Poverty: A literature review. Read Section 2.2 on definitions and browse the rest. Available at http://web.idrc.ca/uploads/user-S/10541291550ICTPovertyBiblio.doc
• Parts of Dr. Rahul Tongia's book on ICTs and sustainable development - the Executive Summary, Chapters 1 &3 (again, feel free the browse the rest).  Available at http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~rtongia/ict4sd_book.htm

 

Discussion led by Hilary & Lydia

 

 

9. Community-based Networks.

 

• Cecchini, S., & Scott, C. 2003. Can Information and Communications Technology Applications Contribute to Poverty Reduction? Lessons from Rural India. Information Technology for Development 10 (2003) 73–84. Available at http://itd.ist.unomaha.edu/Archives/1.pdf
• Birchall, J. 2003. Rediscovering the cooperative advantage: Poverty reduction through self-help. Available at http://www.wisc.edu/uwcc/info/cd/jb1.pdf  (Read Chapter 1 & 4)

  LINK BROKEN... TRY: http://www.uwcc.wisc.edu/info/cd/jb1.pdf

• Case Study 1: Rwanda Community-driven Network 
• Case Study 2: Warana Wired Village & Warana Unwired Project (short PPT summary)

 

Discussion led by Rima, Uri, and Morana

 

 

10. Free/Open-source Software.

 

• Weber, S. Open Source Software in Developing Economies. Available at http://www.ssrc.org/programs/itic/publications/ITST_materials/webernote2.pdf
• Debroy, B, & Morris, J. 2004. Open Source Software and Economic Development. Available  at http://www.policynetwork.net/uploaded/pdf/open-to-development-2004.pdf

   

 

 Discussion led by Magali and Daniel

 

11. E-government and Development.

 

[readings: chicken soup for the e-governing soul]

•  *4 pages of pure e-government bliss:

  http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTEGOVERNMENT/Resources/premnote91.pdf?resourceurlname=premnote91.pdf

• Heeks, R. 2002. eGovernment in Africa: Promise and Practice. IDPM Working Paper No. 11. Available at

  http://www.sed.manchester.ac.uk/idpm/research/publications/wp/igovernment/igov_wp13.htm

• 10 questions to ask yourself, should you find yourself creating an e-government

  http://www.pacificcouncil.org/pdfs/e-gov.paper.f.pdf

 

[optional readings: for the free of time, or overachieving, among us]

 

• Heeks, Richard. 2001. Understanding e-governance for development. IDPM Working Paper No. 11. Available at http://www.sed.manchester.ac.uk/idpm/publications/wp/igov/igov_wp11.pdf

• Panzardi, R., Calcopietro, C., & Ivanovic, F. 2002. Electronic Government and Governance: Lessons for Argentina. Available at http://www1.worldbank.org/publicsector/egov/Argentina%20Paper%20on%20E-Government.doc

 

 

 

 

------------- below this line are the left-over readings which we won't get to this year... but feel free to look at them if you are interested in these topics------------

 

II. Technological Opportunities

 

 

 

Appropriation, innovation and development

 

Universal Access: Old Tools and New Models.

 

* Navas-Sabater, Juan, Dymond, Andrew, & Juntunen, Niina. 2002. Telecommunications and information services for the poor. World Bank Discussion Paper No. 432. Available at http://www-wds.worldbank.org/servlet/WDS_IBank_Servlet?pcont=details&eid=000094946_02041804225061

 

* Wellenius, B. 2000. Extending Telecommunications beyond the Market: Toward Universal Service in Competitive Environments. World Bank Note No. 206. Available at http://rru.worldbank.org/Documents/PublicPolicyJournal/206welle.pdf

 

* The Panos Institute. 2004. Completing the Revolution - The Challenge of Rural Telephony in Africa. Available at http://www.panos.org.uk/PDF/reports/Panos%20Report%20-%20Completing%20the%20Revolution.pdf

 

* Badshah, A, Khan, S., & Garrido, M. 2004. Connected for Development: Information Kiosks and Sustainability. UN ICT Task Force Series 4. Available at http://www.unicttaskforce.org/perl/documents.pl?id=1361 (read Sections I and II, skim the rest).

III. Socio-economic implications

 

 

Global ICT Governance for Development.

 

* Mueller, M., Mathiason, J, McKnight, L. (2004). Making Sense of “Internet Governance:” Identifying Public Policy Issues. Available at http://dcc.syr.edu/miscarticles/IGP-ITU.pdf

 

* Sadowsky, G., Zambrano, R., and Dandjinou, P. (2004). Internet governance: A discussion document. Available at http://www.unicttaskforce.org/perl/documents.pl?id=1299

E-literacy and Development.

 

* Warschauer, M. 2003. Dissecting the "digital divide": A case study in Egypt. The Information Society, 19(4), 297-304. Available at http://www.gse.uci.edu/markw/dissecting.pdf

 

* Warschauer, M. 2003. Social Capital and access. Universal Access in the Information Society 2(4). Available at http://www.gse.uci.edu/markw/soccap.pdf

 

E-commerce and Development.

 

* Mansell, R. (2001). Digital opportunities and the missing link for developing countries. Oxford Review of economic Policy 17(2): 282-295 (available through Proquest).

 

* UNCTAD. 2003. E-commerce and development report 2003. Available at http://www.unctad.org/en/docs/ecdr2003_en.pdf

 

* Bastos Tigre, P. 2003. E-Commerce Readiness and Diffusion: The Case of Brazil. Available at http://crito.uci.edu/publications/pdf/gec/brazil.pdf

IPR and Development.

 

* UK Commission on Intellectual Property Rights. (2002). Integrating intellectual property rights and development policy (read chapters 1 and 5, the rest is optional. Available at http://www.iprcommission.org/papers/pdfs/final_report/CIPRfullfinal.pdf

 

* Okediji, R. 2004. Development in the Information Age Issues in the Regulation of Intellectual Property Rights, Computer Software and Electronic Commerce. Available at http://www.iprsonline.org/unctadictsd/docs/CS_Okediji.pdf

 

* Falvey, R., Foster, N., & Greenaway, D. 2004. Intellectual Property Rights and Economic Growth. Available at http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/economics/leverhulme/research_papers/04_12.pdf

 

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