This article analyses the impact of public-sector support programmes on the recent performance of the computer software and services sector in Argentina. First, the effect of these programmes on firms’ innovation performance is studied, with a propensity score matching technique used to calculate the average treatment effect on treated firms. The results confirm that receiving public funds had a positive impact on the ratio between research and development (R&D) spending and sales, employment in R&D and the propensity to introduce new products or processes. The effect of policy interve…
En el presente artículo se analiza el impacto que han tenido los programas públicos de apoyo en el desempeño reciente del sector de software y servicios informáticos de la Argentina. En primer lugar, se estudia su efecto en el desempeño innovador de las firmas. Se utiliza una técnica de emparejamiento por puntaje de propensión (propensity score matching) para calcular el efecto medio del tratamiento en las firmas beneficiarias. Los resultados confirman que la recepción de fondos públicos tuvo un impacto positivo en el ratio entre el gasto en investigación y desarrollo (I+D) y las ventas, el em…
An on-line survey of experts was conducted to solicit their views on policy priorities in the area of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the Caribbean. The experts considered the goal
to “promote teacher training in the use of ICTs in the classroom” to be the highest priority, followed by goals to “reduce the cost of broadband services” and “promote the use of ICT in emergency and
disaster prevention, preparedness and response.” Goals in the areas of cybercrime, e-commerce, egovernment, universal service funds, consumer
protection, and on-line privacy rounded out the top 10.
S…
This report examines the usage of digital currency technology in the Caribbean subregion with a view to drawing attention to the opportunities and risks associated with this new phenomenon. It discusses the broader context of an emerging activity at the global level and considers how this technology could address subregional deficiencies in the electronic payment infrastructure.
The report also discusses mobile money solutions, and the relationship of that technology to digital currency.…