The ICT Revolution: Productivity Differences and the Digital Divide

The view that the Internet and the information and communication technology (ICT) revolution would deliver a frictionless economy without recessions is, at least for the time being, dead. This book takes stock of the ICT revolution, going well below the surface to ask and answer a few key questions: did the ICT revolution contribute to the recent divergence in the growth record? And if so, how and why were some countries better equipped to explit the potential of ICT?

This volume assembles two studies originally prepared for the fourth European conference of the Fondazione Debenedetti, which was held in Catania in June 2002 (for more information on that event, please visit the dedicated page in that website). Part 1 focuses on the role the the ICT revolution played in advanced countries to grow output and productivity at macro, industry, and firm level. Part 2 assesses whether or not the digital economy will indeed result in a more competitive and more equal world.

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