Call for Chapters:
Technological Integration as a Catalyst for Economic Development in Latin America Proposals Submission Deadline: December 30, 2015 Full Chapters Due: April 30, 2016 Submission Date: July 30, 2016
http://www.igi-global.com/publish/call-for-papers/calldetails/1992 Editors Ewa Lechman, Ph.D. in Economic Science, Assistant Professor at Faculty of Management and Economics, Gdansk University of Technology
Introduction The proposed book covers issues which are broadly related to development economics. More specifically, it combines issues of economic growth and development and one of its key determinant technology development. It is desinged to significantly contribute to the present state of the art, regarding empirical evidence on the role of information and communication technologies in fostering economic growth and development. By convention it combines both theoretical and empirical aspects of the latter, introducing extensive qualitative and quantitative research. It also aims to demonstrate broad explanations of causal mechanisms lying behind the process of ICT diffusion and economic development, good practices and case studies regarding issues discussed.
Objective Recently, the world has witnessed unprecedented in terms of speed and geographical coverage diffusion of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Broad empirical evidence shows that even most economically backward countries were not left behind and underwent the ICT tornado, which resulted in almost total eradication of their technological deprivation. Information and communication technologies are widely recognized as a significant catalyst for
country`s progress and societal transformations. Full potential of new technologies can be easily unleashed when deploying them as economic development accelerator in least developed countries (LDCs). The near-ubiquitous spread of information and communication technologies offers unprecedented opportunities for low-income economies to take-off on the development path. Least developed countries, permanently lacking financial resources, good infrastructure, free and easily accessed educational and healthcare systems, sound governments, remain in poverty traps, unless a breakthrough like explosion of ICT occurs. ICTs bring to developing markets new business models, innovations, capital-labor substitution, improved goods and services. Because they can spread rapidly, with little cost and require minimal skills for usage, ICTs create a solid background for social and economic gains. They enable significant reduction in information asymmetries, which improves access to economic activities for multitude of agents, fostering participation, inter alias in labor market of disadvantaged societal groups. The nexus between new technologies and achievements of Millennium Development Goals is recognized and it is based on mutually shared objectives, which are: “efficient, scalable, affordable and pervasive delivery of goods, services and information flows between people, government and firms” [see Report prepared for the United Nations ICT Task Force in Support of the Science, Technology & Innovation Task Force of the United Nations Millennium Project, Denis Gilhooly]. Adoption of ICTs creates better conditions for education and skills improvement, allows overcoming barriers for disadvantaged groups empowerment and tap global market of goods and services. ICTs enhance shifts from traditional (usually agricultural) to modern forms of running business, letting countries to get more industrialized and create service-based economy. Above all, new technologies allow for declines of asymmetries, and by eliminating one of market failure, they i.e. better engagement in labor market, lead for job creation, foster national competition among producers, create friendly-environment for “going abroad” and starting trading internationally. Regardless all the mentioned facts, information and communication technologies` impact on economies` performance is claimed to exhibit in the long-run perspective and – in addition – their real impact is limited and hardly quantifiable. Hence, after almost two decades of rapid diffusion of ICT in developing world, it is time to assess the real consequences of ICTs adoption in economically backward countries. Broad, real-world based evidence shall provide better understanding of the precise nature of new technologies and their impact of country`s economy and society. Is ICTs impact stimulating for economy, and bringing opportunities for wealth creation, or constraining and resulting in greater divides and different forms of deprivation? At a time, over last decades a great majority of Latin American economies has undergone deep structural changes, and experienced rapid advancements in terms of improving social and economic performance. Along with these positive changes in economic progress, across Latin American economies there have been observed pervasive changes regarding the level of adoption and usage of new information and communication technologies. Henceforth, its highly arguable to provide extensive empirical evidence on how ICT foster economic development and growth across Latin American economies.
Recommended Topics The book topic coverage encompass, however is not limited to, issues discussing: 1. Arguments and mechanism justifying ICTs contribution to economic development – micro-, and macroeconomic perspective; 2. Identification of main ICTs transmission channels reshaping social and economic landscape; 3. Role of ICTs in promoting activities (i.e. female labor force engagement, skills deepening, financial system access) contributing to economic development; 4. Evidence on ‘economic and technological catching-up’; 5. ICT as driving factor of growing productivity output growth – new growth theory approach; 6. Novel, conclusive and informative methodological approaches for measurement ICTs influence on economic development; 7. Country-specific ‘success stories’ in ICTs deployment for development; 8. Preconditions for countries` economy ‘take-off’ – role of non-economic factors (i.e. culture, social norms, political regimes, market structure) conditioning effective use of ICTs for development; 9. Identification of channels that ICT impacts economic development and growth; 10. e-stategies implementation; 11. e-education, e-government for economic growth and development; 12. Digital gaps versus economic gaps; 13. Role of ICT in fosteting women`s entrepreneurship By convention, all these aspects should be discussed regarding Latin American countries.
Submission Procedure Researchers and practitioners are invited to submit on or before December 30, 2015, a chapter proposal of 1,000 to 2,000 words clearly explaining the mission and concerns of his or her proposed chapter. Proposals should be submitted at http://www.igi-global.com/submission/. Authors will be notified within several days but no later than January 10, 2016 about the status of their proposals and sent chapter guidelines. Full chapters are expected to be submitted by April 30, 2016, and all interested authors must consult the guidelines for manuscript submissions at http://www.igiglobal.com/publish/contributor-resources/before-you-write/ prior to submission. All submitted chapters will be reviewed on a double-blind review basis. Contributors may also be requested to serve as reviewers for this project. Note: There are no submission or acceptance fees for manuscripts submitted to this book publication. All manuscripts are accepted based on a double-blind peer review editorial process
Publisher This book is scheduled to be published by IGI Global (USA) (formerly Idea Group Inc.), publisher of the "Information Science Reference" (formerly Idea Group Reference), "Medical Information Science Reference," "Business Science Reference," and "Engineering Science Reference" imprints. For additional information regarding the publisher, please visit www.igi-global.com. This publication is anticipated to be released in 2016.
Important Dates 12/30/2015: Proposal Submission Dealine 4/30/2016: Full Chapter Submission 5/30/2016: Review Results to Chapter Author Returned 6/30/2016: Revised Chapter Submission 8/30/2016: Submission of Final Chapters to Editor
Inquiries Inquiries can be forwarded electronically to: Ewa Lechman
[email protected]
