The Role of Information and Communication Technologies in Transition Economies

This research investigates the role of information and communication technologies (ICT) in transition economies (TEs). We identify how ICT spending influences the transition process of TEs with respect to socioeconomic and sociopolitical changes in the three groups of TEs from 2004 to 2010. These groups include the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), Latin America, and BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China). Our results suggest that while ICT spending is positively correlated with overall economic freedom and job creation, such investments do not significantly improve the democratic values or mitigate the existing high wealth-inequality level. Furthermore, the results from individual regions show that the impacts of ICT spending on transition processes differ according to the intention of ICT uses. These findings have implications for theorizing about the role of ICT and harnessing the potential of ICT in the transition processes in new economies

Multinational Corporations and Foreign Direct Investments in Romania. Effects on the Romanian Trade

This paper focuses on the study of transnational corporations and their business development through foreign direct investments made in other countries, mostly greenfield type countries. The objective of this paper is to determine the impact of these companies enlargement on the Romanian retail market, especially on the consumer goods market. Transnational companies have experienced a very dynamic economic growth, enjoying success at first in their country and then expanding to other countries. As independent players on the international market, multinational corporations are becoming more and more powerful every day. Most of these companies record annual sales of ten million dollars each. The most important aspect of business globalization is the interdependence between national economies. In this process, Foreign Direct Investments have an important role, given the fact that the internal resources are not enough to ensure the development and support of businesses hence the need to obtain external resources. Generally, FDI have a strong training effect both in the national and global economy, providing the replacement and modernization of techniques and technologies, increasing production and supply of goods, improving their quality and competitiveness, creating new jobs and growing the quality of life. Thus, each national economy is building its economic development strategy in which investments have a predominant role. Foreign Direct Investment is a major driver of globalization that characterizes the modern economy. Increasing of Foreign Direct Investment flows, accompanied by the increasing of the portfolio investments, highlights the major role played by transnational corporations, especially in developing economies and transition economies. The most important areas in which FDI was made in Romania are: financial intermediation and insurance, trade, construction and real estate, information technology and communication. The entering of retail networks on the Romanian market generated mutations in the forms of trade, causing modern trade, which by 2010 reached a market share of 50% of total trade.foreign investments, multinational corporations

The Role of ICT as a Double-Edged Sword in Fostering Societal Transformations

Information and communication technologies (ICT) have been central to economies seeking improvements in societal conditions. The impacts of ICT advancements manifest themselves in both socioeconomic and sociopolitical changes. While socioeconomic restructuring and, more recently, sociopolitical changes have often been attributed to ICT, research on its impacts and nuances in countries differentiated by economic levels remains sparse. The focus has been on the two ends of the strata for developing and developed economies and restricted to the impacts of ICT on economic metrics like GDP growth. In this study, we explore the pivotal role of ICT in societal transformations for countries categorized as developing, transition, and developed economies. Leveraging endogenous growth theory and social network theory, we hypothesize about the different impacts of ICT across the three economic classifications. Using panel data from 1995 to 2012 for 37 countries belonging to the three economic groups, we empirically investigate the associations between ICT investments and societal outcomes. Our results reveal that ICT has an impact on societal outcomes for transformations, but the nature of its contributions to social change varies with the stage of a country’s economic development. The analysis suggests that developing economies benefit the most from ICT investments with an overall improvement in socioeconomic and sociopolitical conditions, while the ICT effects are either insignificant or negatively inclined for developed economies. Transition economies show mixed ICT effects in stimulating socioeconomic and sociopolitical transformations. These results provide insights for actionable policies and suggest directions for building an ICT-enabled Bright Society

The Effects of Human Capital on Output Growth in ICT Industries: Evidence from OECD Countries

Information and communication technologies (ICT) play a central role in the transition to knowledge - based economies. In this paper we analyse the effects of human capital in fostering output growth in ICT manufacturing and services using data from a sample of twenty OECD countries over the period 1980-2002. We focus on within country between industry differences and estimate a system of simultaneous equations to account for simultaneous effects of human capital on physical investment and output growth. The results of our econometric analysis suggest that countries with a high human capital stock experienced faster output growth in ICT producing manufacturing and ICT using services. Also, in countries with high human capital improvement over the analysed period output grew relatively faster in ICT producing manufacturing industries. Furthermore, we find that past country level educational attainment reflected in the human capital stock and human capital accumulation over the analysed period had a direct positive and significant effect on physical capital investment. Our findings indicate that in developed countries human capital is an important factor driving the ICT industries growth.DYNREG, Human capital, ICT industries, Economic growth

E-government implementation

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are playing an increasingly vital role in the daily lives of people, revolutionizing work and leisure and changing the rules of doing business. In the realm of government, ICT applications are promising to enhance the delivery of public goods and services to citizens not only by improving the process and management of government, but also by redefining the traditional concepts of citizenship and democracy. The ICTs’ effect on societies are both far-reaching and uneven. On the one hand, ICT is fueling the transition from industrial-based economies to knowledge-based societies. On the other hand, ICT still has little or no impact in the lives of people in many countries. This wide disparity in the impact of ICT around the world today underscores the uneven progress of economic development. It also highlights the critical role of government in the information age. The goal of this article is to provide a brief overview of E-government studies and their evaluation, to clarify the major issues, which can make E-government to be more effective, transparent and responsive. The article considers the significance of contemporary E-government activity

Transition To A Green Economy In The Context Of Selected European And Global Requirements For Sustainable Development

The aim of the paper is to present selected aspects of sustainable development related to environmental protection and the creation of a green economy, with special reference to the global and European context for the development of an environmentally friendly goods and services market, taking into account the cases of Central and Eastern European countries. One of the most important elements of the strategy to promote clean economic growth and foster the transition to a more sustainable and greener economy is the energy sector, where the aim is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sulfur oxides and support the development of renewable energy sources. Some of the achieved results in this area are presented in this paper.Celem artykułu jest przedstawienie wybranych aspektów zrównoważonego rozwoju w odniesieniu do ochrony środowiska i budowy “zielonej gospodarki” w kontekście uwarunkowań globalnych i europejskich dla rozwoju rynku towarów i usług środowiskowych (szczególną uwagę poświęcono w nim krajom Europy Środkowej i Wschodniej). Jednym z najbardziej istotnych aspektów jest również promowanie czystego wzrostu ekonomicznego w celu wzmocnienia przechodzenia do bardziej zrównoważonej i bardziej zielonej gospodarki w sektorze energetycznym, przez wdrażanie redukcji emisji gazów cieplarnianych i tlenków siarki oraz przez rozwój energetyki bazującej na odnawialnych nośnikach energii. Pewne osiągnięcia w tej dziedzinie zostały zaprezentowane w niniejszym artykule

Innovative Asia: Advancing the Knowledge-Based Economy - Highlights of the Forthcoming ADB Study Report

[Excerpt] The development of knowledge-based economies (KBEs) is both an imperative and an opportunity for developing Asia. It is an imperative to sustain high rates of growth in the future and an opportunity whereby emerging economies can draw from beneficial trending developments that may allow them to move faster to advance in global value chains and in position in world markets. Over the last quarter of a century, driven mostly by cheap labor, developing countries in Asia have seen unprecedented growth rates and contributions to the global economy. Sustaining Asia’s growth trajectory, however, requires developing economies to seek different approaches to economic growth and progress, especially if they aspire to move from the middle-income to the high-income level. KBE is an important platform that can enable them to sustain growth and even accelerate it. It is time for Asia to consolidate and accelerate its pace of growth. Asia is positioned in a unique moment in history with many advantages that can serve as a boost: to name a couple, an expanding middle of the pyramid—Asia is likely to hold 50% of the global middle class and 40% of the global consumer market by 2020; and the growing importance of intra-regional trade within Asia, increasing from 54% in 2001 to 58% in 2011. Many developing economies are well placed to assimilate frontier technologies into their manufacturing environment

Technology without borders: case studies of successful technology transfer

Technology Without Borders presents case studies of successful transfer of climate-friendly technology and practices. It explores the causes for success and draws the lessons learned. Key messages are presented for the fight against climate destabilisation. The terms “climate-friendly technology” and “climate technology” used here refer to technologies, practices or techniques, which reduce greenhouse-gas emissions or assist countries in adapting to climate change

Skills for Competitiveness, Jobs, and Employability in Developing Asia-Pacific

[Excerpt] The ADB International Skills Development Forum, held at ADB headquarters in December 2012, discussed key policy priorities and actions for skills development. It built on the discussions and outcomes of the first ADB International Skills Forum in December 2011. Government representatives, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutional heads, researchers, international organizations, policy research think tanks, and private sector representatives discussed skills development for employability and sustainable livelihoods. Of special importance to the forum discussions were the presentations of major studies from five organizations on skills and jobs that were released in 2012. This brief has been prepared by drawing on presentations and discussions at the 2012 forum and other related materials. Links to forum resources are provided on the last page of this brief