Information And Communication Technology Growth Research Articles

Editors' Introduction to Technology, Data, and Politics

This symposium addresses the rise of Internet data—and, more broadly, the data that is generated by a range of information and communication technologies (ICTs). Global ICT growth could have wide-ranging implications for the study of politics, but political science is currently lagging behind other disciplines in its use of ICT-derived data—particularly compared to fields such as public health and economics (Nadav et al. 2011; Carneiro and Mylonakis 2009; Choi and Varian 2009; Christakis and Fowler 2009; Ginsberg et al. 2009; Jensen 2011). The articles in this symposium, therefore, focus on the question of how political scientists can and should think about using ICT-derived data in their research.

Mobile Commerce and Mobile Payment: A Study on Islamic Perspective

Electronic commerce, very important part of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), is one of the most common business terms in use in 21st century. Developed countries are more popular because of their rapid growth of ICT, e-commerce and online transaction. But in developing or under develop countries the scenario is different. Technical laggings, dearth of infrastructure, infeasibility of the existing frameworks and people apathy are the main reasons behind this. There are several alternative ways of e-commerce and online transaction. Mobile payment, a way of online transaction, may be beneficial way of payment for developing countries because of its mobile network infrastructure. In this paper, a model of electronic payment system for M-Commerce has been proposed and analyzed the security for the system. This proposal may be suitable for developing countries where mobile phones are available but other e-payment tools like debit and credit cards are not much available. It also identifies what Islam has to say about our current use of M-Commerce and the way Islam can offer guidance for its use in the future. The paper also touches on the conditions and criteria that must be met in order to make an M-Commerce transaction acceptable under Islamic perspective. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/iiucs.v7i0.12257 IIUC Studies Vol.7 2011: 37-48

China’s Information and Communication Technology in Geographic Perspective

Two economic geographers analyze the unprecedented growth of China’s information and communication technology (ICT) industry over the past decade (2000–2010)—an industry increasingly important as a new engine powering exports and providing infrastructure and services critical to sustaining economic growth. Using agglomeration and inequality indices including the Herfindahl and the Gini, the authors show that the geographic concentration of ICT activities has decreased over time, in tandem with a decline in their regional inequality; however, a new ICT development index (IDI) designed for this study reveals a significant and persistent gap in ICT development between the country’s advancing and lagging provinces. The paper also explores a range of factors contributing to “leapfrog” ICT growth in some provinces, as well as the challenges likely to be faced by the industry in the future. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: L630, L960, O180, O330. 2 figures, 4 tables, 85 references, 1 appendix.

Virtual Bazaar: A Means of Supporting Microtrade in the Least Developed Countries

This empirical study investigates the impacts of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), educational attainment, the rule of law and other determinantal variables on the growth of Gross Domestic Products (GDP) among 35 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in Africa and Asia. The results of this empirical analysis on archival data from 1997 to 2007 show that while ICT expansion in LDCs has many positive impacts on GDP growth in these countries, the differences between countries in terms of the level of citizens’ educational attainment, the rule of law, governmental intervention in economic activities and the level of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) can both enhance and restrict the relationship between ICT and GDP growth. This study proposes an e-commerce model called Virtual Bazaar. The model is adapted to the existing level of ICT infrastructure in LDCs in order to enable the micro-trade owners to sell their products directly to potential customers across the globe, hence increasing their level of incomes.

Imperatives of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for Second Language Learners and Teachers

The introduction of information and communication technology (ICT) to education creates new learning paradigms. We are dwelling in a world which technology has reduced to a global village and the breakthrough in technology is underpinning pedagogical submissions. It may become imperative therefore to have a rethinking on how to ameliorate the constraints of second language users through the applications of modern technologies. The interactions between new technology and pedagogical submissions have been found to an extent to be addressing the heterogeneous needs of second language learners and any global discovery which aims at minimizing learners’ constraints is a welcome development in a rapidly changing world of technology. This paper therefore is an overview presentation of how modern technologies can be of assistance to both teachers and students of a second language setting. The rapid growth in ICT experienced by the technologically advanced nations of the world has helped them to overcome some of the barriers in teaching and learning. Applications of modern day’s technologies in the field of teaching and learning can make it possible for teachers, students and others to join communities of people well beyond their immediate environment to critically review, analyze, contribute, criticize and organize issues logically and contextually having professionalism and the transformations of the entire society in view. Now, new technologies such as the reported computer enhancements with new software and networking make it much easier for educators to conquer space and time, with the motive of ameliorating constraints and academic conflicting issues. We can now bring learning to virtually any place on earth anytime for the purpose of achieving the desirable learning outcomes.

Towards Digital Economy: The Development of ICT and E-Commerce in Malaysia

Information and communication technologies (ICT) are one of the important determinants for the rapid growth of E-Commerce transactions all over the world. The upshot of ICT and the initiative by Malaysian government flourish online businesses in the country. The aim of this paper is to show the potential growth of ICT and the development of E-Commerce in Malaysia. The impact of internet usage, internet disclosure, internet experience and the improvement of ICT have positive implications for the information technology (IT) infrastructure and for the E-Commerce development in the country. Finding shows that the behavior of internet users for purchasing online is changing through the growth of ICT and IT infrastructure. The increasing rate of internet users, online spending and adopting of new technologies are the key drivers for the development of E-Commerce in Malaysia. Government initiatives for the development of IT infrastructure and E-Commerce have shown a positive feedback from the businesses all over the country. This study may enable the decision makers of the developing countries to adopt the initiatives and steps of the Malaysian government as a role model for the development of E-Commerce and knowledge base economy. This paper also provides the background of the ICT dependency, its influence on purchase intentions and the development of E-Commerce in Malaysia.

The Role and Impact of ICT on Economy Growth

Use of information to the discretion of the prediction of economic growth driven by investments in the Information and Communication Technology(ICT). This paper discuss on the use of ICT that contributes to the economic growth and how it being measured. Prediction analysis resulting to empirical studies and research had been carried out between ICT and economic growth found there is both mixed results depending on the methodology of the research engaged and geographical landscape or situation that should be considered. The analysis of estimates reveal a significant impact on economic growth of investments in ICT towards specific region implies whereby countries seek to enhance their economic growth, they need to implement specific policies that facilitate investment in ICT. A proposed future research has been made in this paper that could help to ensure the role and impact of ICT to spur the economy growth with the continuing trend that is growing is also given.

ICT and productivity growth in the 1990s: panel data evidence on Europe

What has been the quantitative effect on productivity growth of information and communication technology (ICT) in Europe after 1995? Based on a multi-country sectoral panel data set, the authors provide econometric evidence of positive and significant productivity effects of ICT in Europe, mainly due to advances in total factor productivity. The impact of ICT in Europe has happened against a negative macro economic shock not related to ICT. This is in contrast to the established evidence for the US. Our main results challenge the consensus in the growth-accounting literature that there has been no acceleration of productivity growth in Europe, mainly due to a dismal performance of ICT-using sectors.

Information and Communication Technologies in Social Work

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are electronic tools used to convey, manipulate and store information. The exponential growth of Internet access and ICTs greatly influenced social, political, and economic processes in the United States, and worldwide. Regardless of the level of practice, ICTs will continue influencing the careers of social workers and the clients they serve. ICTs have received some attention in the social work literature and curriculum, but we argue that this level of attention is not adequate given their ubiquity, growth and influence, specifically as it relates to upholding social work ethics. Significant attention is needed to help ensure social workers are responsive to the technological changes in the health care system, including the health care infrastructure and use of technology among clients. Social workers also need ICT competencies in order to effectively lead different types of social change initiatives or collaborate with professionals of other disciplines who are using ICTs as part of existing strategies. This paper also identifies potential pitfalls and challenges with respect to the adoption of ICTs, with recommendations for advancing their use in practice, education, and research.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and human capital management trend in Malaysia's economic development

Testing for stationarity, cointegration and structural break for the ICT data are significant to determine Malaysia's economic growth. This article finds that the ICT follows similar trend as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), capital and employment data. The cointegration test suggests that ICT follows a long-run equilibrium in relation to GDP, capital and employment variables. The test for parameter instability for ICT indicates 1986 as the breakpoint, which is indicative of the structural transformation in Malaysia's economy. This is crucial finding as it provides more conclusive evidence on structural breakpoint in Malaysia's economic data, as opposed to noneconometric method. Human capital is synonymous to knowledge accumulation, thus significant in the development of the ICT and long-run economic growth.

A Decade of Growth: The Emerging Geography of New Economy Industries in the 1990s

Economic analysts have expressed significant interest in the transition of the industrial base towards knowledge-intensive production. A central aspect of this transition is the growth and development of industries that provide the technological and scientific foundations for what is often termed the New Economy. This paper explores the geographic structure of two innovative sectors: (1) information and communications technology (ICT) industries, and (2) science-based industries. ICT industries develop and support products that are at the heart of the technology revolution. Science-based industries make important contributions to systems of innovation via large investments in research and development (R&D) and human capital.This empirical study develops a geographic profile of ICT and science-based industries in Canada. It investigates differences in the evolution of these industries across provincial boundaries, along the urban/rural hierarchy, and in different metropolitan areas. Patterns of ICT and science-based growth are examined by focusing on changes in employment intensity between 1990 and 2000. The paper also investigates why certain cities have enjoyed more intensive growth in their local ICT economies than other cities.

An African Pioneer Comes of Age: Evolution of Information and Communication Technologies in Uganda

Introduction A specific international discourse dominated development theory and practice in much of the 1990s. The issues were framed around the utility of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for socioeconomic development. This attracted the attention of many developing countries especially in Africa still reeling from the effects of the lost decade of the 1980s and structural adjustment programs. Also, there was continental interest in the prospects of information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D). This was expressed by organizations such as the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD). Unlike many countries in Africa, Uganda responded to the ICT4D debates early on. However, while it was pioneer by getting head start through its various initiatives and programs, it was not until 2005 that it finally articulated systematic policy on ICTs as fundamental tools for socioeconomic development. The began with the Ugandan Communication Act, enacted in 1997. It was response to the 1996 mandate of the UNECA-sponsored African Information Society Initiatives (AISI) for African countries to formulate policies that would accelerate their advancement toward the global information society. For many countries, the interest in creating an information society immediately led to the deregulation of the telecommunication sector. Policies on the telecommunication also provided oversight to the Internet sector at the initial stage. The creation of an appropriate policy framework for both the telecommunication and Internet sectors was the central purpose of the Ugandan Communication Act. The Act was itself implemented through the highly influential Ugandan Communications Commission (UCC). Uganda presents an interesting case for an examination of the application of ICTs for development in an African for two major reasons. First, the was one of the earliest to respond to the discourse that made the connection between ICTs and socioeconomic development. While some countries were still trying to understand the substance of the debates, the Ugandan government had already enacted the Communication Act to provide a framework for the development of telecommunication sector in the country (UNECA, 2009). That act unwittingly set model for ICT policymaking in other African countries where telecommunication policies became the proxies of state interventions in the sector. An important part of the Communication Act was the role that it assigned to the Ugandan Communications Commission (UCC) The UCC implements the provisions of the Ugandan Communication Act by controlling and promoting developments in the partially deregulated telecommunication sector (broadly defined to include all ICTs). The Commission's major mandate was the integration of universal access provisions in the delivery of communication and information services in the country. The Commission works to improve communication services generally and to ensure equitable distribution of services throughout the country (Ugandan Communications Commission [UCC], 2008, p. 10). Another aspect of its mandate was the establishment of the Rural Communication Development Fund (RCDF) which was expected to prevail on telecommunication operators to provide 2.5% of their growth revenues for rural communication services. The evolution of ICTs in Uganda and the gradual journey toward an information society--at least going by the standards of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)--raise important issues for research, some of which we explore in this article. Arguably, there is nothing significantly remarkable about the growth of ICTs in Uganda. Yet there is sense of measured and progressive steps toward the future as the different technologies continue to diffuse widely over the years. Our study examines this spread of ICTs in Uganda with an emphasis on Internet connectivity and the manner in which access to the Internet has become coping mechanism, if not conflict resolution strategy, in war-torn Northern Uganda. …

ICTs and poverty reduction: user perspective study of rural Madhya Pradesh, India

This paper presents findings of a user perspective study on the impact of ICTs (information and communications technology) in rural India. The study is based on primary research conducted by the author in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh, India. The aim of the primary research is to explore whether ICTs can be deployed to enable the improvement of rural human capital and increase participation in market opportunities. Amidst growing literature on the supply-side debates on ICTs in the rural sector, this study addresses the sparsely explored demand-side factors. Further, the outcomes of the fieldwork challenge and validate the ‘ICT-rural poverty linkages’ conceptual framework for ICT growth to be good for poverty, developed by the author in an earlier publication (2006). The paper further identifies issues critical to enhancing the accessibility of ICT services to the poorest rural households.Cet article présente les résultats d'une étude réalisée du point de vue des utilisateurs, sur l'impact des TIC (Technologies de l'information et de la communication) en Inde, dans le secteur rural. Cette étude repose sur un travail de terrain effectué par l'auteur dans le district de Dhar, dans la région de Madhya Pradesh en Inde. L'objet de ce travail préliminaire est de se demander si le déploiement des TIC pourrait permettre l'amélioration du capital humain rural et accroître la possibilité de saisir des opportunités offertes sur les marchés. Face à l'abondante littérature portant sur les débats sur l'offre de TIC dans le secteur rural, cette étude aborde les facteurs de demande qui sont beaucoup moins traités. De plus, les résultats de ce travail de terrain interrogent et prouvent le bien-fondé du modèle conceptuel sur les liens entre les TIC et la pauvreté dans le secteur rural. Ce modèle a été développé par l'auteur dans un travail antérieur (2006). Par ailleurs, l'article identifie des facteurs essentiels pour améliorer l'accessibilité des services de TIC envers les ménages ruraux les plus pauvres.

Globalization and advances in information and communication technologies: The impact on nursing and health

Globalization and information and communication technology (ICT) continue to change us and the world we live in. Nursing stands at an opportunity intersection where challenging global health issues, an international workforce shortage, and massive growth of ICT combine to create a very unique space for nursing leadership and nursing intervention. Learning from prior successes in the field can assist nurse leaders in planning and advancing strategies for global health using ICT. Attention to lessons learned will assist in combating the technological apartheid that is already present in many areas of the globe and will highlight opportunities for innovative applications in health. ICT has opened new channels of communication, creating the beginnings of a global information society that will facilitate access to isolated areas where health needs are extreme and where nursing can contribute significantly to the achievement of “Health for All.” The purpose of this article is to discuss the relationships between globalization, health, and ICT, and to illuminate opportunities for nursing in this flattening and increasingly interconnected world.

Together but Apart: ICT and Productivity Growth in Israel

There is widespread agreement about the important role played by Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the US productivity revival and in the evolving US-EU productivity gap. In Israel, the ICT sector grew very rapidly during the 1990s and became a hotbed of innovation and technological advance by worldwide standards. Yet, Israel's overall productivity growth remained sluggish, with traditional sectors both in manufacturing and services seemingly unable to benefit from the success of the ICT sector. The main goal of this paper is to shed light on these twin developments. We use newly constructed data on industry-level ICT investments between 1990 and 2003 and estimate production functions for manufacturing industries augmented to include ICT capital. We find a significant elasticity of value-added with respect to ICT capital, which increases considerably with the technological sophistication of the industry. We also find that ICT capital deepening is the most important factor contributing to value added growth in manufacturing during 1995-2000, before the burst of the dot.com bubble. Because most ICT capital is concentrated in high tech industries, growth in manufacturing has been mostly confined to the high-tech sector. Facilitating the adoption of ICT in traditional industries is therefore crucial to achieving economy-wide growth. The Israeli experience described here - although restricted to the manufacturing sector - provides a useful example of the benefits and limitations associated with a growth strategy centred on a local ICT producing sector, however successful it might be.

Employability and Sustainability in the Graduate Job Market: A Case Study of ICT Graduates in Malaysia

The emergence of digital technologies and the transformation to a knowledge-based economy has created a significant demand for workers who are highly skilled in the use of information and communication technology (ICT). One of the significant impacts of the rapid growth and diffusion of ICT is a shortage of such highly qualified workers. However, the shortage is not just associated with there not being enough ICT workers. Currently, in Malaysia, there is also a major concern expressed by employers that the shortage of ICT workers is due to a skills shortage and employability issues, particularly among ICT graduates.

Information Technology as a Factor of Economic Development: Evidence from Developed and Developing Countries†

This article explores the role of information and communication technologies (ICT) and of its individual components as factors of economic development. An augmented production function is employed to estimate the total ICT effect on labor productivity growth as well as the impact exerted by its components (hardware, software, and communications). The empirical analysis is based on a sample of 42 developed and developing countries, covering the 1993–2001 period. A positive and significant ICT growth effect is estimated in both country samples, with the highest impact observed in developed ones. This effect stems entirely from the hardware and communication components. Estimates concerning the individual components of ICT slightly differentiate between developed and developing countries, with respect to their statistical significance. The results are robust to possible endogeneity biases. † An earlier version of this paper has been previously presented in the 9th International Conference on Marketing and Development, Thessaloniki, Greece, June 8–11, 2005.

Growth and development of information and communication technologies in Bangladesh

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to highlight the present status of information and communication technology (ICT) in Bangladesh and to represent the scenario of growth and development of ICT in relation to the evolution of the information explosion with the aim of providing better library and information services in Bangladesh.Design/methodology/approachDocumentary sources and direct observation are the major methods of this article.FindingsTo achieve the millennium development goal and to face the information revolution, Bangladesh needs a special information infrastructure. There is also an immediate need to make a dedicated decision to ensure an appropriate electronic‐communication environment in the country to facilitate the use of ICT to disseminate information, building communication, marketing products and publications, and earn revenue through e‐commerce.Originality/valueThe paper will be of value to researchers on Bangladesh who wish to learn more about the state of ICT in the country, as well as to librarians wishing to improve their services.

Information and communication technology and GDP per capita

This paper examines statistically three hypotheses related to the link between Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, viz., firstly, GDP growth precedes growth in ICT; secondly, the relationship between GDP per capita and ICT will be positive and strong; and finally, ICT's economic impact on GDP per capita will rise over time. The statistical results using the ICT proxies of main telephone lines per thousand people (163 observations) and ICT expenditure per capita (49 observations), and data for the years 1995 and 2000, support all three hypotheses. Support for the third hypothesis calls for governments to invest more to raise the synergistic effects of ICT on GDP.

Nurturing Information and Communications Technologies in Africa

Information is a very important asset that must be managed in order to enhance its creation, sharing and application for the sustenance of society. This view arises from the globally accepted fact that information is an essential ingredient in the socio-economic development process of any society. There is no sector or economic activity that can function effectively without information. The advent and application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has revolutionized information-handling activities to an appreciable sophisticated level. In the wake of ICTs development, Africa finds herself on the other side of what has come to be termed the Digital Divide. She lags behind the industrial societies in acquisition and application of ICTs and subsequently the benefits thereof for various reasons. The paper asserts that a conducive environment to promote and sustain the growth and development of ICTs must be created if Africa is to benefit fully from ICTs. The paper suggests steps that can be taken to nurture ICTs: creating a permanent official coordinating agency that would be responsible for all aspects that relate to ICTs and formulate a national policy as a means of strengthening national ICTs capabilities. Humanities Review Journal Vol.4 2004: 11-17