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on Information and Communication Technologies |
| By: | Azam, Mehtabul (Oklahoma State University); Emran, M. Shahe (Columbia University); Shilpi, Forhad (World Bank) |
| Abstract: | Using a nationally representative large-scale survey of individual ICT skills in India (Multiple Indicators Survey, 2020), we provide evidence on the effects of ICT skills on labor market outcomes and household welfare as measured by per capita expenditure. We study the effects both at the extensive and intensive margins of labor market. To tackle the challenges in identification arising from unobserved individual heterogeneity in the acquisition of ICT skills, we develop an instrumental variables (IV) strategy. The IV approach exploits the dramatic expansion of cell towers in India as a source of supply-side variation, and relies on an institutional feature of the telecom market, the "telecom circles", to construct a leave-own-out instrumental variable. The evidence suggests no significant effects at the extensive margin (null effect on both labor force participation and employment). In contrast, there are important effects at the intensive margin: a 10 percentile higher ICT skills index increases the probability of salaried employment by 6.5 percentage points, and leads to a 9.5 percent higher per capita expenditure. Employment transitions happen from daily wage employment and self-employment to salaried employment. The effects vary substantially across gender: women face a penalty in the form of a lower impact on salaried employment, but the impact on per capita expenditure is larger for households with ICT-skilled women. The higher impact on women reflects the fact that the family stock of ICT skills is much larger in households with ICT-skilled women. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the lower caste individuals enjoy a larger positive effect on salaried employment, despite their unfavorable labor market network, possibly due to the employment quotas in public sector employment. The impacts on salaried employment and per capita expenditure for Muslims are comparable to the other social groups. We find no significant rural-urban differences. |
| Keywords: | ICT skills, labor market, employment, salaried employment, daily wage employment, self-employment, per capita expenditure, gender, caste, religion, towercos, telecom circles, India |
| JEL: | J24 J62 I30 O12 O15 |
| Date: | 2024–06 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17105 |
| By: | Jesper Kristensen; David Wender; Carl Anthony |
| Abstract: | The rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and cloud computing have precipitated an unprecedented demand for computational resources. However, the current landscape of computational resource allocation is characterized by significant inefficiencies, including underutilization and price volatility. This paper addresses these challenges by introducing a novel global platform for the commodification of compute hours, termed the Global Compute Exchange (GCX) (Patent Pending). The GCX leverages blockchain technology and smart contracts to create a secure, transparent, and efficient marketplace for buying and selling computational power. The GCX is built in a layered fashion, comprising Market, App, Clearing, Risk Management, Exchange (Offchain), and Blockchain (Onchain) layers, each ensuring a robust and efficient operation. This platform aims to revolutionize the computational resource market by fostering a decentralized, efficient, and transparent ecosystem that ensures equitable access to computing power, stimulates innovation, and supports diverse user needs on a global scale. By transforming compute hours into a tradable commodity, the GCX seeks to optimize resource utilization, stabilize pricing, and democratize access to computational resources. This paper explores the technological infrastructure, market potential, and societal impact of the GCX, positioning it as a pioneering solution poised to drive the next wave of innovation in commodities and compute. |
| Date: | 2024–06 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2406.19261 |