The Social and Economic Impact of Information and Communication Technology on Developing Countries : An Analysis

Abstract

The international development community is beginning to stress the role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) as an enabler of broad-based social and economic development. This has given rise to efforts to utilize ICT to achieve a variety of development objectives, including poverty reduction, extension of health services, expansion of education opportunities, and access to government services. More specifically, ICT is a key to economic development on the national and individual level, by improving developing countries' positions in the global economy and raising individual levels of income. This analysis indicates that ICT has a positive impact on growth in developing countries, both socially and economically. Furthermore this analysis concluded that in order for such benefits to follow from ICT, developing countries must invest in both education and infrastructure; that without such investment ICT will not have the benefits it has the potential to deliver to such countries. ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR