Information and Communication Technology Development Indices

From the Executive Summary

This report analyses and evaluates information and communication technology (ICT) development using indicators of ICT diffusion across countries. It develops a conceptual framework for and selects key indicators measuring ICT development, with a specific focus on information and communication technologies (ICTs) as pervasive technologies of global impact, wide application and growing potential. Also, it benchmarks levels of existing infrastructure connectivity, as well as measures of future potential and important determinants affecting countries' abilities to absorb, adopt and make use of these rapidly evolving technologies.

The challenges in such a benchmarking exercise are manifold, in the selection of a representative set of indicators measuring the complex concept of technology development; in the “breadth versus depth” trade-off in the nature and number of these indicators; and in the integration of the results of benchmarking into policy analysis. Despite these challenges, used wisely and with caution, benchmarking can provide useful information and meaningful analysis for policy purposes. This cross-country analysis permits comparison between countries and monitoring of progress over time.

Comparison with better-performing countries helps identify policies for further improvement and progression. Although benchmarking cannot investigate causation, it nevertheless allows straightforward identification based on evidence of “success stories” for closer investigation yielding policy conclusions. Approached thoughtfully, benchmarking is a useful input to policy analysis in allowing more informed and insightful study of policy and, ultimately, in promoting better, faster and more effective ICT development.

Classification of countries as falling behind, keeping up or getting ahead on the basis of rankings in these indices shows stable rankings over time, with strong regional influences apparent. As a generalisation, African and South Asian countries are classified as falling behind, Latin American and transition economies as keeping up and OECD countries and South-East Asian Tigers as getting ahead. However, this classification masks considerable diversity in individual country experience, with Arab and “island States” as notable successes having good connectivity despite less competitive policy measures.

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