Options for Rural Telecommunications Development


Book Description

World Bank Technical Paper No. 366. The quantitative and qualitative approaches to poverty measurement and analysis have often been treated by practitioners as two distinct--even opposing--approaches. This paper highlights the key characteristics of the two approaches, examines the strengths and weaknesses of each, and analyzes the potential for combining the two approaches in analytical work on poverty. The main conclusion of this paper is that sole reliance on either the quantitative or the qualitative approach is often likely to be less desirable than combining the two.




Options to Increase Access to Telecommunications Services in Rural and Low-Income Areas


Book Description

Telecommunications sector policy-makers and regulators have a wide range of instruments available to them that can be used to increase access to telecommunications services in rural and low-income areas. The paper provides a review of these instruments, evaluating them against a set of criteria. It then goes on to identify a number of them that are worthy of further consideration by policy-makers and regulators while demonstrating that the effectiveness of the identified instruments can be greatly enhanced by the establishment of a conducive legal, regulatory and institutional framework. The paper concludes by confirming that while no single instrument taken in isolation can provide a full solution to universal access, a mix of the measures identified can be devised to achieve specific policy objectives in a particular country environment.




Creating Fiscal Space for Poverty Reduction in Ecuador


Book Description

This publication reviews Ecuador's fiscal management and public expenditure policies in the context of its development and poverty reduction goals. Findings include that the country's impressive fiscal performance of 2003 is encouraging but fragile, as several structural bottlenecks could impede fiscal discipline and recovery. Reversing poverty trends is critical for the country's stability, and this can only be achieved with well-targeted, effective and efficient pro-poor programmes.




Attacking Poverty


Book Description

At the start of each decade the World Development Report focuses on poverty reduction. The World Development Report, now in its twenty-third edition, proposes an empowerment-security-opportunity framework of action to reduce poverty in the first decades of the twenty-first century. It views poverty as a multidimensional phenonmenon arising out of complex interactions between assets, markets, and institutions. This Report shows how the experience of poverty reduction in the last fifteen years has been remarkably diverse and how this experience has provided useful lessons as well as warnings against simplistic universal policies and interventions. It shows how current global trends present extraordinary opportunities for poverty reduction but also cause extraordinary risks, including growing inequality, marginalization, and social explosions. The World Development Report 2000/2001 explores the challenge of managing these risks in order to make the most of the opportunities for poverty reduction.




Business America


Book Description

Includes articles on international business opportunities.




Telecommunications and Information Services for the Poor


Book Description

Access to information and communication technologies is a crucial issue for sustainable economic development. This discussion paper outlines a number of policy and regulatory measures that can be used to close the digital divide. The six sections of the report are: telecommunications, information and poverty reduction; an overview of access problems; technology and market solutions to close the access gap; policy and regulatory models for improving access; World Bank experience to date; towards a strategy for universal access.




Ecuador


Book Description

This publication explores current development challenges facing Ecuador and examines policy options available, under three key themes of fiscal consolidation and economic growth, promoting sustainable and equitable social development and governance and anti-corruption issues.




Managing Information Technology Resources in Organizations in the Next Millennium


Book Description

Managing Information Technology Resources in Organizations in the Next Millennium contains more than 200 unique perspectives on numerous timely issues of managing information technology in organizations around the world. This book, featuring the latest research and applied IT practices, is a valuable source in support of teaching and research agendas.







Revisiting Ecuador's Economic and Social Agenda in an Evolving Landscape


Book Description

Ecuadorian society has overcome adversity with great determination over the past few years. Periodic economic crises, external shocks, and even natural disasters tested the country's ability to cope with difficulties. Despite these challenges, the country has maintained a forward looking perspective and has achieved some important goals. Economic stability in the last few years has ushered in a period of sustained economic growth. During this period several development indicators have improved, and several sectors of the economy have demonstrated the dynamism and entrepreneurship that is present in the Ecuadorian culture. Revisiting Ecuador's Economic and Social Agenda in an Evolving Landscape aims to provoke a lively discussion between the World Bank, the new Correa administration, and the entire country, in addressing the unresolved issues that require a thoughtful approach.