1. Development No one definition The focus is on improving the human condition in a country Benefits are to accrue to the populace

2. How to measure development? GDP? Poverty headcount? Mortality/life expectancy? School enrollment/literacy levels? Other?

3. Rostow’s stages of development: emphasis on economic growth Stage 1: traditional society: subsistence activity; output is consumed by producers, not traded; barter; agriculturally based; labor intensive Stage 2: transitional phase: increased specialization leads to surpluses for trading; transport infrastructure is developed, entrepreneurs emerge

4. Stage 3: take-off: industrialization increases; manufacturing sector develops; growth in a few regions of the country; investment reaches 10% of GDP; new political and social institutions develop to support industrialization Stage 4: drive to maturity: diversification; technological innovation; diverse range of investment opportunities; less reliance on imports

5. Stage 5: high mass consumption: consumer durable industries flourish; service sector more dominant Essentially a growth model, with emphasis on capital investment Doesn’t address development in the wider context Very western culture oriented

6. Sustainable development “Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” More emphasis on environmental impacts, etc.

7. Emphasis on individual in development Amartya Sen as an example: –Capabilities approach 1.Importance of the real freedoms in the assessment of a person’s advantage 2.Individual differences in the ability to transform resources to valuable activities 3.Multi-variate nature of activities giving rise to happiness 4.Balance of materialistic and non-materialist factors in evaluating human welfare 5.Concern for the distribution of opportunities within society

8. Telecom and Development Telecom/information is seen as playing a major role –Maitland Commission Report—”The Missing Link”—in 1985; highly influential

9. Indirect Benefits of Telecom Improvement of efficiency, or ratio of output to cost Improvement of effectiveness, or quality of products and services Improvement of equity, or distribution of development benefits throughout society

10. Necessary Elements for Telecom Infrastructure to be Effective Organizational requirements: telecom systems must be designed to provide effective communication or it won’t be used. Organizational resources: the country must have sufficient resources to use and maintain the telecom system

11. More elements Social/institutional framework: telecom use is incorporated into a society based on existing social relationships. Complementary infrastructure: other infrastructures (electricity, roads, etc.) are necessary Appropriate rates: demand for telecom service depends on cost of the service

12. Policy Alternatives Universal service: extensive infrastructure investment throughout nation, including rural areas, if not, use phase-in strategies –islands of service around existing social or political structures –centralized public service to remote areas, like telecottages

13. Other policy alternatives Industrial development: investments targeted to areas where industrial facilities are located; tariffs are set to maximize use by industries Export oriented: investments directed to firms in export business

14. Steps to increase telecom development Privatization Competition Increased investment—recently a greater emphasis on government investment and involvement Regulatory structures to recognize national goals