Digital trade integration : global trends

Recent initiatives devoted to mapping digital trade policies warn against rising regulatory divergence in crucial policy areas for the digital economy, including data policies, content access and telecom infrastructure. Evidence-based analysis on the impact of digital regulatory heterogeneity and on the ability of digital policies to achieve their desired policy objective should inform the design of new initiatives to foster a predictable and safe regulatory environment for the digital economy

Data governance models and geopolitics : insights from the Indo-Pacific region

Cyberspace is widely recognised as an “object of geopolitical competition” between countries advocating for an open internet space and countries that aim to use this space as a tool for control. The Indo-Pacific region represents one of the most contested and strategically significant domains, principally because of the role of China, which hosts the world’s largest cohort of internet users and also the most sophisticated internet censoring and monitoring regime. Regulation of the internet has moved from attempting to regulate the flow of information into countries to also including attempts to regulate the data flowing out of countries, efforts which in both cases appear to have economic and political rationales that are often hard to disentangle.3 The flow of information into a country can be regulated with different policies, including censorship and filtering (which can happen in different layers of the internet infrastructure) and also with market access restrictions, which can take the form of strict licensing regulations, joint-venture requirements, maximum foreign equity shares and nationality requirements which can apply to certain sectors sensitive to the spread of information, e.g. online news, social media and blogs, among others. On the other hand, the flow of information out of a country can be restricted through regulation of the processing and transfer of data, which can consist in requiring certain data to be processed within the borders of the country or companies to meet certain conditions before data can be transferred abroad. Regulation of cross-border data flows has become a major focus of geopolitical contestation, reflecting the importance of data as a strategic asset in the digital era and the symbolic importance data privacy and security have assumed in general discourse on democracy vs autocracy. This paper characterises the data policies that apply in 15 Indo-Pacific economies and the emerging pattern of bilateral and plurilateral cooperation on cross-border data flows. A premise of the analysis is that differences in data regulation and the patterns and types of international cooperation between states provide insights into the inclusive and exclusive geopolitical dynamics in the region

The Digital Trade Integration database : description of pillars and indicators

This paper serves as a supplement to the Digital Trade Integration database. It details the structure of the database and its indicators, and it provides key definitions, the methodology for data collection and the main resources used for data collection

Data localisation : global trends

This paper provides evidence of the variety of restrictions to data transfers imposed over time across 150 countries. It presents a taxonomy of the different types of data localisation policies enriched by examples of laws implemented globally and provides aggregated statistics for these policies, highlighting sectoral and regional trends. By enhancing transparency, the paper aims to facilitate empirical research and trade policy discussions related to data flows

The Brussels effect in Africa : is it beneficial for intra-regional trade in digital services?

African countries are increasingly regulating personal data. The Brussels effect is strong in the region, with most African countries having adopted policies on personal data transfers and domestic data protection influenced by the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The EU model is characterised by a comprehensive data protection regime and conditions applied to transfers across borders. In addition, several African economies have implemented stricter policies on data transfers, following the control model traditionally pursued in China. Previous research indicates that policies that restrict the transfer of data across borders are linked to reduced levels of trade in digital services, while a strong data protection regime supports trade in digital services by increasing consumer trust. However, there are no empirical studies with a specific regional focus on Africa. We use information on regulatory regimes in 54 African countries to estimate with a gravity model the impact of data policies on trade in services. Our analysis shows that the Brussels effect does not appear to be beneficial in promoting intra-regional trade as both the conditions applied to transfers across borders and the presence of ambitious data protection regimes domestically are associated with lower intra-regional trade in digital services, although the results differ by income level. We estimate that a regional commitment to open data transfers within the region could lead to an increase in intra-regional trade in digital services of up to 11%, amounting to 135 million USD

The digital trade policy environment in Latin America and the Caribbean

Published online: April 2024This report presents significant findings from the Regional Digital Trade Integration Index (RDTII), highlighting similarities and differences among the economies of Latin America and the Caribbean. After introducing the Digital Trade Integration database and the methodology used in RDTII, the report outlines the main index scores by country and pillar. Jamaica, with the lowest score of 0.14, has the most open regulatory environment for digital trade in the region, whereas Cuba, with the highest score of 0.62, has a regulatory environment that is quite restrictive. The report also summarizes the findings for each of the 12 pillars of RDTII and offers a snapshot of the regulatory similarity across pillars, highlighting the pillars that offer opportunities for practicable regulatory harmonization in the region. The document concludes with some policy recommendations.Abstract -- Introduction -- I. Regional digital trade integration database and index -- II. Main findings for the Latin America and the Caribbean region -- III. Main findings by Pillar -- IV. Conclusions and recommendation

Digital trade, data protection and EU adequacy decisions

Using a structural gravity model, we assess whether EU adequacy decisions on data protection are associated with bilateral digital trade. Controlling for digital-relevant bilateral covariates, including preferential trade agreements and other binding data flow arrangements, we find that countries that received EU adequacy exhibit an increase in digital trade between 6-14 percent, representing a trade cost reduction up to 9 percent. This is mostly driven by the EU granting adequacy to the U.S., reflecting the dominance of the EU and U.S. in global digital trade. We also find that countries that have an EU adequacy determination exhibit greater digital trade among each other, suggestive of a network or club effect. Complementary country-specific analysis of post-adequacy digital trade performance using synthetic control methods confirms the positive effects of adequacy.This work was partially supported by the ESRC Centre of Inclusive Trade Policy, UK (Hoekman

Preparing students for the digital era : lessons learned from FabLabs in school

In this study, we randomly expose Italian high school students from different majors to creative activities taught by FabLabs and assess the impact of this exposition on students’ career aspirations, university choice, interest and confidence in STEM university courses, attitude towards STEM subjects, creativity, and grit. We find that giving students the possibility to join FabLab activities has overall a positive impact on all the variables assessed, except for career aspirations and creativity. This working paper represents a preliminary assessment and is limited to estimating the effect of having the possibility to join FabLab activities. A refined analysis will also investigate the effect on students who have participated in the activities, for whom we expect to find a stronger positive effect

Data flows and national security : a conceptual framework to assess restrictions on data flows under GATs security exception

Available in January 2019Purpose The paper aims to explore the national security implications of a potential for a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute on data flow restrictions. It proposes a basic conceptual framework to assess data flows' restrictions under General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) security exception. Design/methodology/approach If a case were to be brought before the WTO dispute settlement, the defender could support its case by invoking the security exception. This paper analyzes three main arguments that could be brought up: protection from cyber espionage, protection from cyberattacks on critical infrastructure and access to data needed to prevent terrorist threats. These three cases are analyzed both legally and technically to assess the relevance of restrictions on data flows under GATS security exception. This analysis can, more generally, inform the debate on the protection of national security in the digital era. Findings In the three cases, restrictions on data considered critical for national security might raise the cost of certain attacks. However, the risks would remain pervasive and national security would not be significantly enhanced both legally and technically. The implementation of good security standards and encryption techniques appears to be a more effective way to ensure a better response to cyber threats. All in all, it will be important to investigate on a case by case basis whether the scope of the measure (sectors and data covered) is considered proportionate and whether the measure in question in practice reduces the exposure of the country to cyber espionage, cyberattacks and terrorist threats. Originality/value This paper represents a contribution to the literature because it is the first paper to address systematically the issue of data flows and national security in the context of a GATS dispute and because it provides a unique perspective that looks both at legal and technical arguments.Columbia University SIPACarnegie Corporatio

Fabschool : la pedagogia creativa modello “Maker” a scuola

Published online: 08 March 2024Quali prospettive apre l'introduzione di percorsi laboratoriali creativi modello 'maker' nei processi di apprendimento di bambini e ragazzi? Qual è l'impatto del "modello fablab" sulla crescita degli studenti che lo sperimentano? I fabschool sono luoghi fisici di apprendimento non formale per docenti e studenti attrezzati con macchinari di fabbricazione digitali come stampanti 3D e kit di programmazione. Questi laboratori sono stati sviluppati all'interno di istituti scolastici di diverse province italiane grazie a un progetto di fondazione Edulife con il sostegno di fondazione Cariverona e con il coinvolgimento attivo di partner territoriali. Si tratta di spazi collaborativi dove sperimentare nuove tecnologie e accrescere competenze digitali e non-cognitive con attività laboratoriali che utilizzano un approccio pedagogico creativo basato sul 'learning-by-doing', la 'peer education', il gioco e l'orientamento. Il volume presenta una sintesi della valutazione d'impatto delle attività dei fabschool, con particolare attenzione allo sviluppo di competenze stem e non-cognitive.-- 1. Introduzione -- 2. Analisi delle attività dei poli oggetto della ricerca -- 3. Studio randomizzato controllato (RCT) -- 4. Attività di divulgazione della ricerca -- 5. Fonti e documenti per approfondimento -- Allegat