Internet y la capacidad de innovar en América Latina

(Disponible en idioma inglés únicamente) En este trabajo presentamos una panorámica general de la situación de internet en América Latina y sostenemos que si bien los países latinoamericanos se han incorporado relativamente tarde, en principio pueden ponerse al día con mayor rapidez y a un costo menor. Pero eso depende del entorno de la innovación en esos países; en ese respecto, puede que la adopción de internet no se diferencie de la de otros avances tecnológicos. En este trabajo también se trata cómo el grado de innovación de un país explica en parte el grado al que se pueden absorber nuevas tecnologías con mayor eficacia. Lo sorprendente de esta relación es que sea válida, incluso cuando se aísla el hecho de que los países con mejor infraestructura telefónica también son los que tienen más proveedores de servicios de internet. Hallamos que la capacidad de innovar y asimilar nuevas tecnologías no es sólo cuestión de ingresos o de la capacidad de la infraestructura.

After the hype: e-commerce payments grow up

On June 18, 2003, the Payment Cards Center of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia and the Electronic Commerce Payments Council (eCPC) of the Electronic Funds Transfer Association co-hosted a workshop forum to explore areas of mutual interest related to the proliferation of e-commerce payments. This was the second event jointly sponsored by the groups. ; The first forum, “The Future of e-Commerce Payments,” which was held in June 2002, focused on the possibilities ahead, as various electronic payment channels displace paper checks as a primary payment form. The more recent forum, “After the Hype: e-Commerce Payments Grow Up,” continued the dialog, emphasizing recent economic and marketplace realities that impact ecommerce payments innovation, acceptance, and maturation. ; Participants and speakers included Federal Reserve staff and industry leaders.Electronic commerce

Bringing America Up to Speed: States' Role in Expanding Broadband

Describes innovative state programs to expand access to high-quality, high-speed broadband; the National Broadband Plan -- a partnership of state, federal, and local governments; providers; and nonprofits -- and roles and challenges for states

Prospects for the Digital Economy in South Africa: Technology, Policy, People, and Strategies

E-commerce, South Africa, Information policy, Digital economy, Information infrastructure

"Learning by dining": informal networks and productivity in Mexican industry

The authors analyze the determinants of firm productivity in a group of Mexican firms. In particular, they test the contribution of external factors such as trade and knowledge diffusion, the availability of infrastructure, informal knowledge exchange, competitive environment, and business regulatory climate. The authors find that one factor consistently emerges as an important proximate source of productivity-access to informal networks. Interaction in the form of"business lunches"with local buyers and suppliers, competitors, government officials, and other professionals have a significant and positive effect on a firm's productivity. Access to regulators and agents of backward and forward linkages are important in settings where information on business practices and regulations is not publicly disclosed. The results complement predictions of traditional growth theory-in addition to technology and learning being the driving force of firm productivity, proximity to influential individuals who can grant favors or provide information advantage on business and trade practices have significant productivity impacts.Economic Theory&Research,Labor Policies,Banks&Banking Reform,Environmental Economics&Policies,Decentralization,Environmental Economics&Policies,Economic Theory&Research,Banks&Banking Reform,Municipal Financial Management,ICT Policy and Strategies

Emerging Perspectives on Self Service Technologies in Retail Banking

This paper attempts to critically examine the available literature on the subject, discuss a model that provides a managerial framework for analyzing the variables associated with customer value, and to identify potential research areas. The discussion draws conceptual impetus from new technologies in banking services through self service technologies in banking as a tool for optimizing profit. The discussion in the paper also analyzes the main criteria for successful internet-banking strategy and brings out benefits of e-banking from the point of view of banks, their technology and customer values and tentatively concludes that there is increasing returns to scale in the bank services in relation to the banking products, new technology and customer value.Self service technology, retail banking, customer value, profit optimization