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on Information and Communication Technologies |
| By: | Clara Delavallade; Manil Nadir Zenaki; Lea Marie Rouanet; Mousson Estelle Jamel Koussoube |
| Abstract: | Education and skills are two key determinants of earning potential, with sector specialization significantly influencing earnings. This study examines the drivers behind training choices in two high-paying sectors: information and communications technology (ICT) and energy. Drawing on data from 2, 528 individuals seeking vocational training in Côte d’Ivoire, we find that a majority (72% of men and 51% of women) aspire to train in ICT or energy. For both genders, higher levels of education and larger professional networks are positively correlated with selecting training in these high-paying sectors. For women, previous training in similar fields strongly predicts their training choices, highlighting path dependency. Additionally, women benefit more from male role models, which significantly increase their likelihood of choosing a training in ICT or energy. Women with greater agency are also more likely to opt for training in these sectors. Conversely, women holding more traditional views on specific household responsibilities are less likely to choose high-paying sector training. |
| Date: | 2024–09–23 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:10924 |
| By: | Kneller, Richard; Jonathan David Timmis; DeStefano, Timothy; Johnstone, Nick |
| Abstract: | The arrival of cloud computing provides firms a new way to access digital technologies as digital services. Yet, capital incentive policies present in every OECD country are still targeted towards investments in information technology (IT) capital. If cloud services are partial substitutes for IT investments, the presence of capital incentive policies may unintentionally discourage the adoption of cloud and technologies that rely on the cloud, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and big data analytics. This paper exploits a tax incentive in the UK for capital investment as a quasi-natural experiment to examine the impact on firm adoption of cloud computing, big data analytics and AI. The empirical results find that the policy increased investment in IT capital as would be expected; but it slowed firm adoption of cloud, big data and AI. Matched employer-employee data shows that the policy also led firms to reduce their demand for workers that perform data analytics, but not other types of workers. |
| Date: | 2024–09–17 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:10911 |
| By: | Cariolle, Joël; Houngbonon, Georges Vivien; Silue, Tarna Abdoul Hamid; Strusani, Davide |
| Abstract: | Submarine cables enable international connectivity and are essential for high-speed internet access. This paper tests their potential to improve the affordability of internet access by supporting a price drop through cost savings or increased competition intensity. The empirical framework relies on a dataset that combines the capacity of submarine cables with price data on fixed and mobile internet across 150 countries over a decade. Using a two-way fixed effects estimator, the analysis finds that the expansion of submarine cables is associated with a statistically significant drop in the price of internet access, up to 14–21 percent, depending on the technology, for every doubling of the capacity of submarine cables, and with large regional disparities. These effects stem from cost savings in the short run and tend to decline over time, concomitant with a rise in domestic telecom market concentration. The analysis also finds that these effects can be enhanced by telecom regulations, especially de-jure independence of the regulator, and the regulation of network interconnection and access, shared telecom infrastructure, and competition from international players across the broadband value chain. The main findings are robust to alternative estimation strategies, including an instrumental variable and a staggered difference in differences. |
| Date: | 2024–07–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:10840 |
| By: | Regina Pleninger; Dana Vorisek; Shu Yu; Gaurav Nayyar |
| Abstract: | This paper summarizes the evidence on the growth and distributional effects of digitalization through four channels: average productivity growth, employment and wages, access to markets, and government finances. First, digitalization has increased average productivity growth by better matching demand and supply, improving the efficiency of business processes, and boosting the accumulation of intangible capital. For developing economies, the productivity gains from “smart” automation and artificial intelligence that reduce labor costs may be lower than from the previous wave of information and communications technologies, which improved the matching of sellers to buyers by reducing search and coordination costs. Second, there is little evidence that use of information and communications technologies has reduced aggregate employment or resulted in job polarization in developing economies, unlike the experience of advanced economies. However, distributional challenges within countries might increase to the extent that “smart” robots and artificial intelligence need complementary skills. Third, digitalization has enhanced market access for rural households, small firms, and unbanked populations in developing economies through improving information flows. Fourth, digitalization has improved the efficiency of government spending on, and revenue mobilization for, public services and welfare programs through its effect on transparency, accountability, simplification of bureaucratic processes, and adoption of new delivery models. |
| Date: | 2024–10–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:10941 |
| By: | Deepak Mishra (Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER)); Mansi Kedia; Aarti Reddy; Cledwyn Fernandez; Krithika Ramnath; Sruthi Vanguri |
| Abstract: | This report uses globally adopted methodologies—frameworks developed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB)—to estimate the size of India's digital economy, both as a share of national income and total employment. With the publication of these numbers, India will be among a handful of countries, and the first among developing countries, to have used the OECD framework to produce the most up-to-date estimate for the size of its digital economy. The report goes beyond the OECD approach to also include the digital share of traditional industries like trade, banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) and education. |
| Keywords: | digital economy, employment, OECD approach, ICT, Digital India, icrier |
| Date: | 2025–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bdc:report:25-r-03 |
| By: | Gabriela Inchauste; Mariel Cecilia Siravegna |
| Abstract: | This paper studies telework as an opportunity to increase women’s labor force participation in Mexico. Using data on the availability and use of information technology in households, the paper models women’s labor force participation and worksite choice during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results show that telework can potentially increase female labor force participation, particularly among college-educated women. Although this is not the largest segment of women out of the labor force, as many as one in five women with higher education remain outside the labor market in Mexico. In addition, the findings show that family conditions are a clear divide in labor force status between men and women, whereas age, education, and socioeconomic status are not. Caring for children and looking after their husbands or partners seems to be a responsibility that affects women’s decision to work. To promote female workers’ engagement in the workforce, policies that encourage part-time and hybrid work arrangements, along with well thought out child and senior care programs and access to internet infrastructure need to be considered. Overall, bringing these workers into the labor force would result in productivity and growth gains for the country. |
| Date: | 2024–09–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:10889 |
| By: | Yan Liu; He Wang |
| Abstract: | Leveraging unconventional data, including website traffic data and Google Trends, this paper unveils the real-time usage patterns of generative artificial intelligence tools by individuals across countries. The paper also examines country-level factors driving the uptake and early impacts of generative artificial intelligence on online activities. As of March 2024, the top 40 generative artificial intelligence tools attract nearly 3 billion visits per month from hundreds of millions of users. ChatGPT alone commanded 82.5 percent of the traffic, yet reaching only one-eightieth of Google’s monthly visits. Generative artificial intelligence users skew young, highly educated, and male, particularly for video generation tools, with usage patterns strongly indicating productivity-related activities. Generative artificial intelligence has achieved unprecedentedly rapid global diffusion, reaching almost all economies worldwide within 16 months of ChatGPT’s release. Middle-income economies have disproportionately high adoption of generative artificial intelligence relative to their economic scale, now contribute more than 50 percent of global traffic, while low-income economies contribute less than 1 percent. Regression analysis reveals that income level, share of youth population, digital infrastructure, specialization in high-skill tradable services, English proficiency, and human capital are strongly correlated with higher uptake of generative artificial intelligence. The paper also documents disruptions in online traffic patterns and emphasizes the need for targeted investments in digital infrastructure and skills development to harness the full potential of artificial intelligence. |
| Date: | 2024–08–19 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:10870 |
| By: | Cledwyn Fernandez (Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER)); Shravani Prakash; Havishaye Puri |
| Abstract: | The gendered nature of digital access posits significant barriers to the utilisation of digital technology for increasing female labour force participation. This paper uses data from a nationally representative survey conducted by the NSSO in 2020-21 to investigate the gendered nature of access to digital technology, and more specifically, access to mobile phones and internet and the effect on female labour force participation rate. On the extensive margin (via increased coverage), overall access to mobile phones increases FLPR in rural India, while on the intensive margin (exclusive mobile access) FLPR improves only in urban India. Furthermore, the availability of internet at home increases the effect of mobile phone use on women's labour market participation in urban India. Lastly, digital literacy enhances the impact of mobile phone use on FLPR, but only in urban India. Based on these results, the authors propose actionable steps that governments, private sector and NGOs can collaboratively implement to enhance women's digital access and provide opportunities that can improve their labour market participation. |
| Keywords: | Female, Labour, Mobile Phone, Digital, Literacy, icrier |
| Date: | 2024–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bdc:ppaper:31 |
| By: | Ileana Cristina Constantinescu; Arti Grover; Gaurav Nayyar |
| Abstract: | Using Business Pulse Survey data for 61 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, this paper presents novel findings on remote work, enabled by digitalization, as a source of resilience for firms. The results suggest the following. First, firms in sectors with greater amenability to remote work experienced a smaller adverse impact of the pandemic in countries with better digital infrastructure. Second, these effects apply to both exporting and non-exporting firms. Third, there are differences across sectors. Among firms in the manufacturing sector, the benefits of remote work in countries with better digital infrastructure accrue more to exporters relative to non-exporters, thereby reflecting a premium to exporting. This exporting premium is not observed in the service sector, which largely comprises firms in non-knowledge intensive services in the sample. Fourth, the effects of the amenability to work remotely in countries with better digital infrastructure do not dissipate over time. |
| Date: | 2024–10–15 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:10949 |
| By: | Gmyrek, Paweł; Winkler-Seales, Hernan Jorge; Garganta, Santiago |
| Abstract: | Empirical evidence on the potential impacts of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is mostly focused on high-income countries. In contrast, little is known about the role of this technology on the future economic pathways of developing economies. This paper contributes to fill this gap by estimating the exposure of the Latin American labor market to GenAI. It provides detailed statistics of GenAI exposure between and within countries by leveraging a rich set of harmonized household and labor force surveys. To account for the slower pace of technology adoption in developing economies, it adjusts the measures of exposure to GenAI by using the likelihood of accessing digital technologies at work. This is then used to assess the extent to which the digital divide across and within countries will be a barrier to maximize the productivity gains among occupations that could otherwise be augmented by GenAI tools. The findings show that certain characteristics are consistently correlated with higher exposure. Specifically, urban-based jobs that require higher education, are situated in the formal sector, and are held by individuals with higher incomes are more likely to come into interaction with this technology. Moreover, there is a pronounced tilt toward younger workers facing greater exposure, including the risk of job automation, particularly in the finance, insurance, and public administration sectors. When adjusting for access to digital technologies, the findings show that the digital divide is a major barrier to realizing the positive effects of GenAI on jobs in the region. In particular, nearly half of the positions that could potentially benefit from augmentation are hampered by lack of use of digital technologies. This negative effect of the digital divide is more pronounced in poorer countries. |
| Date: | 2024–07–26 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:10863 |
| By: | Jean-Julien Dupin (LEST - Laboratoire d'Economie et de Sociologie du Travail - AMU - Aix Marseille Université - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique); Amandine Pascal (LEST - Laboratoire d'Economie et de Sociologie du Travail - AMU - Aix Marseille Université - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique); Cécile Godé (CERGAM - Centre d'Études et de Recherche en Gestion d'Aix-Marseille - AMU - Aix Marseille Université - UTLN - Université de Toulon) |
| Abstract: | This paper aims to take part in further exploring the notion of Digital Resilience (DR) (Boh et al., 2020). The interest in this topic can notably be measured through the number of influential conferences (e.g., ICIS 2021; ECIS 2021; HICCS 2021; AIM 2022) and the last MIS Quarterly special issue interested in DR (March 2023, volume 47, issue 1). Boh et al. (2023: 344) define DR as the "capabilities developed with the use of digital technologies to absorb major shocks, adapt to disruptions, and transform to a new stable state". In this short paper, we adopt a focus on DR within organizations. The disseminated and sometimes ambiguous nature of the literature on this topic highlights the need for a clearer positioning of DR. Recent work on organizational resilience (e.g., Hillman and Guenther, 2021; Raetze et al., 2022) propose can offer keys to understanding this notion of organization-related DR. We thus achieved a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) drawing on existing works to address the following research question: What is the current state of in organization-related DR research? |
| Keywords: | digital resilience organizational resilience systematic review information systems information technologies, digital resilience, organizational resilience, systematic review, information systems, information technologies |
| Date: | 2023–05–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-04882695 |
| By: | Michelle Dugas; Daniel Alejandro Pinzon Hernandez; Jungkyu Rhys Lim; Renos Vakis; Zeina Afif; Takahiro Hasumi; Diya Nitham Mousa Elfadel |
| Abstract: | The proliferation of misinformation and disinformation threatens to erode the credibility of public institutions and limit their capacity to implement policies that enhance public well-being. While health misinformation represents an urgent global challenge, relatively little research has examined solutions in low- and middle-income countries. This study experimentally tests the impact of a novel WhatsApp chatbot game pre-bunking inoculation intervention in Jordan to boost capacity to identify common misinformation techniques and reduce the likelihood of sharing misleading headlines with others effectively “inoculating” them against health misinformation. A sample of 2, 851 participants was recruited online and randomly assigned to five study arms: (1) comprehensive game-based inoculation, (2) brief game-based inoculation that highlighted examples of only misinformation, (3) infographics-based inoculation, (4) exposure to placebo infographics unrelated to misinformation, and (5) pure control. To evaluate the impact of the intervention, the study assesses two main outcomes: (1) ability to discern accurately headlines using misinformation techniques and headlines that do not use misinformation techniques, and (2) discernment in sharing the two types of headlines. Compared to the placebo group, the comprehensive game significantly improved discernment of misinformation and reduced the likelihood of sharing misleading headlines. A brief version of the game yielded weaker effects on discernment of misinformation, but similarly reduced intentions to share misleading headlines. In contrast, exposure to infographics teaching similar techniques showed no significant impacts on discernment of misinformation, and marginal effects on intention to share misleading headlines. These findings suggest that games can effectively inoculate the public against misinformation in the context of a middle-income country in the short term. Future research is needed to explore the boundary conditions of the findings. |
| Date: | 2024–09–30 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:10933 |