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Over the past ten years, private-sector-led growth has revolutionized access to telecommunications. Every region of the developing world benefitted in terms of investment and rollout. This revolution would have been impossible without government reform and oversight. Advanced information and communication infrastructure (ICI) are increasingly important to doing business in a globalizing world. Governments, enterprises, civil society, workers, and poor populations in the developing countries need more affordable access. This report proposes strategies that governments can carry out to attract private investment and ensure the continued evolution and spread of information and communication infrastructure. These strategies encompass more than sector policy alone, for investment decisions are based on a wide range of factors including, for example, the roles played by financial sector development and the broader investment environment. The strategies also include potential public sector investments that can catalyze ICI rollout in subsectors where the private sector is not prepared to intervene on its own.

A Development Emergency: the title of this year's Global Monitoring Report, the sixth in an annual series, could not be more apt. The global economic crisis, the most severe since the Great Depression, is rapidly turning into a human and development crisis. No region is immune. The poor countries are especially vulnerable, as they have the least cushion to withstand events. The crisis, coming on the heels of the food and fuel crises, poses serious threats to their hard-won gains in boosting economic growth and reducing poverty. It is pushing millions back into poverty and putting at risk the very survival of many. The prospect of reaching the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, already a cause for serious concern, now looks even more distant. A global crisis must be met with a global response. The crisis began in the financial markets of developed countries, so the first order of business must be to stabilize these markets and counter the recession that the financial turmoil has triggered. At the same time, strong and urgent actions are needed to counter the impact of the crisis on developing countries and help them restore strong growth while protecting the poor. Global Monitoring Report 2009, prepared jointly by the staff of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, provides a development perspective on the global economic crisis. It assesses the impact on developing countries, their growth, poverty reduction, and other MDGs. And it sets out priorities for policy response, both by developing countries themselves and by the international community. This report also focuses on the ways in which the private sector can be better mobilized in support of development goals, especially in the aftermath of the crisis.

In recent years, debate on the state's economic role has too often devolved into diatribes against intervention. Peter Evans questions such simplistic views, offering a new vision of why state involvement works in some cases and produces disasters in others. To illustrate, he looks at how state agencies, local entrepreneurs, and transnational corporations shaped the emergence of computer industries in Brazil, India, and Korea during the seventies and eighties. Evans starts with the idea that states vary in the way they are organized and tied to society. In some nations, like Zaire, the state is predatory, ruthlessly extracting and providing nothing of value in return. In others, like Korea, it is developmental, promoting industrial transformation. In still others, like Brazil and India, it is in between, sometimes helping, sometimes hindering. Evans's years of comparative research on the successes and failures of state involvement in the process of industrialization have here been crafted into a persuasive and entertaining work, which demonstrates that successful state action requires an understanding of its own limits, a realistic relationship to the global economy, and the combination of coherent internal organization and close links to society that Evans called \"embedded autonomy.\"

Surprisingly little is known about policies that affect international trade in services. Previous analyses have focused on policy commitments made by countries in international agreements, but in many cases, these commitments do not reflect actual policy. This paper describes a new initiative to collect comparable information on trade policies for services from 103 countries across a range of service sectors and relevant modes of service delivery. The resulting database reveals interesting policy patterns. Although public monopolies are now rare and few services markets are completely closed, we observe numerous \"second-generation\" restrictions on entry, ownership, and operations. Even in instances in which there is little explicit discrimination against foreign providers, market access is often unpredictable because the allocation of new licenses remains opaque and highly discretionary in many countries. Across regions, some of the fastest-growing countries in Asia and the oil-rich Gulf states have restrictive policies in services, whereas some of the poorest countries are remarkably open. Across sectors, professional and transportation services are among the most protected industries in both industrial and developing countries, whereas retail, telecommunications, and even finance tend to be more open.

Rapid advances in information technology (IT) and the resulting global connectivity are fueling dynamic growth in the services sector. Demand for IT and IT-enabled services (ITES) is estimated to represent a $500 billion annual market, of which only about 20 percent has been realized. Thus, this sector is creating new opportunities for economic growth, social empowerment, and grassroots innovation in developing countries. The potential for employment for youth and women is a particular benefit. This book is a practical guide for policy makers aiming to grow their IT services and ITES industries. It defines the development impact of the two industries and then analyzes factors crucial to the competitiveness of a country or location—including skills, cost advantages, infrastructure, and a hospitable business environment. It examines the potential competitiveness of small countries and of least developed countries specifically. This volume presents the Location Readiness Index, a modeling tool developed by McKinsey and Company for the World Bank and the Information Development Program. The index helps countries to identify their areas of relative strengths and weaknesses and to focus their efforts on interventions with the greatest likelihood for success. The book concludes by discussing specific policy options for enabling growth in the IT services and ITES industries.

This paper investigates the growth of mobile telecommunications across the 23 circles (or states) in India for the period 2005–2021. From this study, we note that diffusion of mobile phones in Indian circles (or states) was influenced by the telecommunication policy of the Indian government. We noted that the growth rates of mobile telephony in all the 23 states followed a logistic model. From this, we inferred that some of the Indian states, with low GDP per capita income started rolling out mobile telephony operations later than states with high GDP per capita income, but could catch with the later. It also follows that states with more rural regions had more adoption of mobile telephony. From this study, we can inform policy makers and telecom providers that electrical power consumption, Human Development Index (HDI), Herfindahl Index (HHI) and proportion of rural to urban ratio do not form an important parameter for mobile growth.

Using annual data from 192 countries over the period 1990-2007, we assess the impact of mobile telecommunications on economic growth. We find that this impact is smaller for countries with a low mobile penetration, usually low income countries. While in low income countries the mobile telecommunications contribution to annual GDP growth is 0.11%, for high income countries this is 0.20%. The increasing returns from mobile adoption are also emerging when assessing the impact on productivity growth. To promote mobile telecommunications penetration liberalization policies along with appropriate regulatory frameworks are recommended. Such policies should be pursued more forcefully in cases where serious shortcomings exist.

This paper examines the impact of information and communication technologies (ICT) on human development in developing and developed countries, measured by the human development index (HDI). The analysis relies on new and contemporary measures of ICT, namely mobile broadband and internet bandwidth, which have only recently become available for many countries. Using data from 180 sample countries over the period 2010–2017, the system GMM estimates suggest that the impact of ICT on human development depends on the country’s development stage and the respective telecommunication service. Mobile broadband drives human development in developing countries, while developed countries gain from increasing internet bandwidth. Further analysis reveals that the positive effects in developing countries are due to improvements in health and education. In contrast, in developed countries, this progress is attributable to positive effects on income.

The exchange and use of health information can help healthcare professionals and policymakers make informed decisions on ways of improving patient and population health. Many low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) have however failed to embrace the approaches and technologies to facilitate health information exchange (HIE). We sought to understand the barriers and facilitators to the implementation and adoption of HIE in LMICs. Two reviewers independently searched 11 academic databases for published and on-going qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method studies and searched for unpublished work through the Google search engine. The searches covered the period from January 1990 to July 2014 and were not restricted by language. Eligible studies were independently, critically appraised and then thematically analysed. The searches yielded 5461 citations after de-duplication of results. Of these, 56 articles, three conference abstracts and four technical reports met the inclusion criteria. The lack of importance given to data in decision making, corruption and insecurity, lack of training and poor infrastructure were considered to be major challenges to implementing HIE, but strong leadership and clear policy direction coupled with the financial support to acquire essential technology, improve the communication network, and provide training for staff all helped to promote implementation. The body of work also highlighted how implementers of HIE needed to take into account local needs to ensure that stakeholders saw HIE as relevant and advantageous. HIE interventions implemented through leapfrog technologies such as telehealth/telemedicine and mHealth in Brazil, Kenya, and South Africa, provided successful examples of exchanging health information in LMICs despite limited resources and capability. It is important that implementation of HIE is aligned with national priorities and local needs. L’échange et l’utilisation des informations sur la santé peuvent aider les professionnels de la santé et les décideurs à prendre des décisions éclairées sur les moyens d’améliorer la santé des patients et des populations. De nombreux pays à revenu faible ou intermédiare (PRF-PRI) n’ont cependant pas su adopter les approches et technologies permettant de faciliter l’échange des informations sur la santé (HIE). Nous avons cherché à comprendre les éléments qui entravent ou facilitent la mise en œuvre et l’adoption des informations sur la santé dans les PRF-PRI. Deux auteurs ont indépendamment parcouru 11 bases de données universitaires à la recherche d’études qualitatives, quantitatives et mixtes, publiées et en cours de publication; ils sont également allés à la recherche de travaux non publiés par le biais du moteur de recherche Google. Les recherches portaient sur la période de janvier 1990 à juillet 2014 et n’étaient pas restreintes à une seule langue. Les études retenues ont été évaluées, puis analysées par thème de manière indépendante et critique. Les recherches ont donné 5461 citations après déduplication des résultats. Parmi celles-ci, 56 articles, trois résumés de conférences et quatre rapports techniques répondaient aux critères d’inclusion. Le peu d’importance accordée aux données dans la prise de décision, la corruption et l’insécurité, le manque de formation et l’insuffisance des infrastructures sont apparus comme des défis majeurs à la mise en œuvre des informations sur la santé; mais par contre des éléments comme un solide leadership et une orientation politique claire assortis d’un soutien financier permettant d’acquérir la technologie essentielle, d’améliorer le réseau de communication et de former le personnel, contribuent tous à la promotion de la mise en œuvre. L’ensemble des travaux a également relevé le fait que les responsables de la mise en œuvre des informations sur la santé doivent tenir compte des besoins locaux afin de s’assurer que les intervenants considèrent les informations sur la santé comme pertinentes et fructueuses. Les interventions HIE mises en œuvre grâce à des technologies efficaces comme la télésanté/télémédecine et la santé mobile au Brésil, au Kenya et en Afrique du Sud, sont des exemples de réussite en matière d’échange d’informations sur la santé dans les PRF-PRI en dépit des ressources et des capacités limitées. Il est important que la mise en œuvre des informations sur la santé soit conforme aux priorités nationales et aux besoins locaux. El intercambio y uso de la información de salud puede ayudar a los profesionales de la salud y formuladores de políticas a tomar decisiones informadas sobre las formas de mejorar la salud del paciente y la población. Muchos países de ingresos bajos y medios (PIBMs) han sin embargo fracasado en acoger las estrategias y tecnologías para facilitar el intercambio de información de salud (IIS). Tuvimos como objetivo entender las barreras y facilitadores para la implementación y adopción del IIS en PIBMs. Dos investigadores independientemente utilizaron 11 bases de datos académicas para buscar estudios cualitativos, cuantitativos y de métodos mixtos publicados y en desarrollo, y buscaron trabajos no publicados a través del motor de búsqueda Google. Las búsquedas cubrieron el periodo entre enero de 1990 y julio de 2014 y no se restringieron por idioma. Los estudios elegibles fueron evaluados de manera independiente y crítica, y luego analizados temáticamente. Las búsquedas produjeron 5461 citas después de la deduplicación de los resultados. De estos, 56 artículos, tres abstractos de conferencias y cuatro reportes técnicos cumplieron los criterios de inclusión. La falta de importancia dada a los datos en el proceso de toma de decisiones, la corrupción y la inseguridad, la falta de entrenamiento y la pobre infraestructura fueron considerados como retos importantes para implementar el ISS, pero el liderazgo fuerte y una dirección de políticas clara, junto con el apoyo financiero para adquirir tecnología esencial, mejoran la red de comunicación y proveen entrenamiento para los trabajadores, lo cual ayuda a promover la implementación. El trabajo también destaca como los implementadores del ISS deben tener en cuenta las necesidades locales para asegurar que las partes interesadas perciban el ISS como relevante y ventajoso. Las intervenciones del ISS implementadas a través de estrategias para sobreponer barreras como la telesalud/tele-medicina y la mSalud en Brasil, Kenia y Suráfrica, son ejemplos exitosos del intercambio de información de salud en PIBMs a pesar de los recursos y capacidad limitada. Es importante que la implementación del ISS esté alineada con prioridades naciones y necesidades locales. 医疗信息的交换和使用能够帮助医疗健康专业人士和政策制定 者形成关于提高病人和人口健康方式的有效决策。然而, 许多 中低收入国家没有采用促进医疗信息交换的方式和技术。我们 致力于了解中低收入国家医疗信息交换的障碍和促进因素的实 施和应用。2名文献回顾者各自搜寻11个已出版和正在进行的 定性研究、定量研究和混合研究方法的学术数据库, 并且通过 谷歌搜索引擎搜寻未出版的研究。研究覆盖了1990年1月至 2014年7月间各类语言的文献。我们各自批判性地评估并且有 目的地分析合格的研究。在去除重复研究结果后, 本研究涵盖 了5461个引用。在这些之中, 56篇文章、3个会议纪要和4个技 术报告符合内部标准。我们认为关于决策制定、腐败和不安全 性数据重要性的缺乏, 培训匮乏和低质量基础设施是实施医疗 信息互换的主要挑战, 但是强大的领导力、明确的政策方向以 及取得重要技术的财政支持能够提升沟通系统, 为员工提供培 训, 从而帮助提升医疗信息互换的实施。研究主体同时强调医 疗信息互换的实施者如何考虑当地需求从而保证利益相关者将 医疗信息互换看做是相关的和有益的。通过交替前进技术 （例 如巴西的远程医疗、肯尼亚的远程药物和南非的远程健康） 实 施的医疗信息互换干预行为展现出中低收入国家交换医疗信息 的成功例子, 尽管各国资源和能力有限。医疗信息互换的应用 与国家有效性和当地需求联系在一起十分重要。

This research analyses the nexus between financial inclusion, digital inclusion and health outcomes in developing countries. In comparison with earlier studies, this study demonstrates an important research gap in addressing the combined impact of these factors. Basically, this research analyses the role of traditional banking and fintech in increasing financial inclusion and ultimately, enhancing health indices in emerging markets. By developing an index based upon the Entropy Weight Method, we show unique insights into bank and fintech-based financial inclusion, health outcomes and digital inclusion in these countries. Our results also show that digital inclusion plays a moderating role on the influence of financial inclusion on health outcomes. We evidenced that well-designed policies emphasising improvement in traditional and digital financial inclusion could potentially improve health outcomes in emerging markets. We also evidenced that improvement in digital inclusion (i.e., adoption of ICT) can facilitate improvement in both digital financial inclusion and health outcomes. Based upon our study, policymakers can utilise the index that we developed to compare health outcomes between different countries as well as to develop effective strategies for improvement in financial and digital inclusion. Our study emphasises the significance of understanding the multifaceted advantages of financial and digital inclusion in the development of health policies particularly in emerging markets.