Information Technology and Broad-Based Development: Preliminary Lessons from North India

UC Santa Cruz Economics Working Paper No. 522

33 Pages Posted: 27 Feb 2003

See all articles by Nirvikar Singh

Nirvikar Singh

University of California, Santa Cruz

P. D. Kaushik

Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies

Date Written: July 2002

Abstract

Can information technology (IT) contribute to broad economic development? Can the benefits of IT reach the poor, through better access to education or to government services? We examine two ongoing projects that aim to provide IT-based services to rural populations in India. Several features distinguish these projects from others: a combination of public and private efforts, and goals of commercial sustainability. We draw lessons from comparing different approaches in similar localities. While the goals of the two organizations studied are similar, we identify some important differences in implementation that may have more general implications for the success of such projects.

Keywords: India, South Asia, information technology, Internet, rural development

JEL Classification: O12, O3, L31, P2

Suggested Citation

Singh, Nirvikar and Kaushik, P. D., Information Technology and Broad-Based Development: Preliminary Lessons from North India (July 2002). UC Santa Cruz Economics Working Paper No. 522, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=344830 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.344830

Nirvikar Singh (Contact Author)

University of California, Santa Cruz ( email )

Department of Economics
E2 Building
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
United States
831-459-4093 (Phone)
831-459-5077 (Fax)

P. D. Kaushik

Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies

Jawahar Bhawan
Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road
New Delhi, 110 001
India

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