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THE EMERGING KNOWLEDGE BASED ECONOMY IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE
CARIBBEAN: A COMMON DENOMINATOR IN DEVELOPMENT
While it is
often stated that information technology is a means to an end,
the fact that it is a means to so many diverse ends is often overlooked.
As a consequence of this oversight, the role of these tools in
development is easily misunderstood, its priority not adequately
determined and its value underestimated. If for no other reason,
information technology should be a high priority in development
and integration because access to information is a critical means
for achieving all development objectives.
Information
and communication technology has no value by itself alone but
rather for the function it helps satisfy. That function involves
facilitating timely access to the precise information people need,
in the most appropriate format, to build and apply knowledge in
all aspects of their lives.
Development
has always been "knowledge-based development." However, this fact
has not always been adequately understood, articulated and integrated
into development strategy. The diffusion of advances in information
and communication technology requires that some assumptions of
development be revisited and adjusted, lest development approaches
become part of the problem rather than part of the solution.
Knowledge-based
development provides a framework for linking the application of
information and communication technology to achieving development
objectives. It can be understood in the following terms:
- The capacity
of an economy to add value to the factors of production, combining
them in a sustainable manner to create and distribute new wealth;
- To add
value to the factors of production involves increasing their
information content, and,
- Increasing
the information content of the factors of production underscores
the central role of human beings as the means and improvement
of the human condition the goal of development since lifelong
learning (i.e., access to information and the tools needed to
use it to build and apply knowledge to the other factor of production)
enhances human factor productivity (including the capacity to
increase the information content of the other factors of production)
and the capacity to improve quality of life.
Click here
for a graphic representation and
an article discussing sustainable
human development based on expansion of the knowledge economy.
The emergence
of a knowledge-based economy in the countries of Latin America
and the Caribbean reflects the transition that is taking place
in the Region's approach to information and communication technology
for development. The economic, social and political reforms of
recent years have provided incentives for increasing access to
information and the deployment of information and communication
technology. Now a comprehensive approach involving the deployment
of these technologies is needed to strengthen the reforms. A wealth
of experience has been accumulated but it must be leveraged in
order to have a significant impact in achieving development objectives,
including overcoming poverty and "planting new seeds" to replace
the corrupt and unjust roots of socioeconomic inequality.
As part of
this transition, a shared vision is coming into focus among the
21st century leaders in the Region.
A common vision is important because it facilitates a collective
approach while encouraging diverse efforts by countries to achieve
the vision. These leaders are building the America of the 21st
century by the way they deploy information technology today.
Increasingly,
this vision is based on the belief that access to information
for people to build and apply knowledge is a common denominator
for achieving simultaneously democratic process of efficient,
equitable and sustainable development. The following paragraph
discusses this concept further:
- Efficient
Development
Access to information is essential to work towards and operate
a fair, open and competitive market economy. Information about
prices, competition, inputs and markets is the fuel that energies
market transactions. Consequently, a fair, open and competitive
information sector with an information industry and information
marketplace is crucial to lower costs of access to information
and communication products and services.
- Equitable
Development
Access to information is not enough. People need to constantly
develop the skills to use information to build and apply knowledge
in all aspects of their lives. The historically important role
of lifelong learning in human development is underscored with
the emergence of knowledge-based economies. This context, involving
what some call the evolution of a learning society, underscores
the importance and gives focus to the reforms in primary, secondary
and university education.
- Sustainable
Development
The application of knowledge is essential to change the volume
and character of supply and demand for all goods and services.
Economic growth that respects the environment and does not jeopardize
possibilities for future generations is made possible through
knowledge-based development
Advances in
information technology force us to recognize something that has
always been true: the relative capacity to innovate in producing,
distributing and using information for building and applying knowledge
has always been and will continue to differentiate economies.
The level of information and knowledge in an economy is not constant
as some economists have suggested; governments must work with
the private sector and civil society to create conditions that
constantly expand the capacity to produce, use, and distribute
information to build and apply knowledge. All other development
efforts will be weakened in the absence of such efforts
OVERCOMING
THE REAL "DIVIDE"
AMERICA
XXI
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