Opinion leaders in government and business routinely tout the Internet's power as a force for economic and social development, and programs designed to bridge the digital divide are springing up across the developing world. Many questions remain, however, about the effectiveness of such programs...

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are increasingly seen as integral to the development process. This paper reviews some of the evidence for the link between telecommunications and the Internet and economic growth, the likely impact of the new ICTs on income inequality and...

Intro -- TABLE OF CONTENTS -- Abstract -- Preface -- Acronyms and Abbreviations -- 1. Introduction -- 2. ICTs and Economic Growth -- 3. Equity -- 4. Governance and Government Services -- 5. Maximizing the Level and Impact of ICT Provision -- 6. Conclusion -- Bibliography -- BOXES -- Box 1: Rural...