New Book Explores Modern Technology Policy and Economic Development in Latin America

ATLANTA — Georgia State economist Alberto Chong has co-edited a new book with Mónica Yañez-Pagans, a senior economist at the World Bank, that explores Latin America and the Caribbean’s dramatic expansion of modern technologies and modes of communication over the past couple of decades.

Information Technologies in Latin America, published earlier this year by Anthem Press, presents evidence from a collection of rigorous empirical studies that examine the impact of old and new information technologies on economic development in the region thus far.

The use of such technologies, like mobile phones and the internet, represents new opportunities for delivering information from business and social service providers in the region.

“Many information and communication technology projects in the developing world have been promoted by aid agencies and nongovernmental entities,” Chong said. “But the extent to which these interventions and policies actually contribute to the development of the region is unclear.”

The book aims to clarify the issue of what types of interventions and policies effectively encourage economic development in these developing regions.

Chong envisions the book leading to more inclusive communications technology policies for marginalized populations living in Latin America and the Caribbean. He hopes this work can provide real-world insight for reaching Latin American and Caribbean populations in new, innovative ways.

“The book fits well within the Andrew Young School’s Digital Landscape Initiative and, in particular, the strategic priority on new technologies and marginalization,” said Chong. “In the book, we seek to identify the varying effects of new technology on marginalized groups in a developing area with the aim of assessing how information technologies may result in more inclusive policies.”

Story by Sumar Deen

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