ICT Policy Developments from Crisis to Recovery

Information and communication technology (ICT) policies have helped shape the economic recovery, but they have also been shaped by the recession and the hesitant recovery. Weak macroeconomic conditions mean that government ICT policies will be scrutinised for their necessity, their efficiency, and their impact on growth, employment and public sector budgets. Most government responses to the economic crisis include measures targeting the ICT sector and promoting ICT-based innovation, diffusion and uptake of Internet technologies. Most OECD countries have increased the priority of at least one ICT policy area for overall economic recovery. The recent ICT policy emphasis on areas that contribute directly to shortand long-term growth – ICT jobs, broadband, R&ampD, venture finance and smart ICTs for the environment – provides evidence of the key roles that ICT policy must play in ensuring a long-term sustainable recovery. ICT policies are now mainstream policies to underpin growth and jobs, increase productivity, enhance delivery of public and private services, and achieve broader socio-economic objectives in government, health care, education and the environment.