Information Technology and Broad-Based Development: Preliminary Lessons from North India

Abstract

Can information technology (IT) contribute to broad economic development? Can the benefits of IT reach the poor, through better access to education or to government services? We examine two ongoing projects that aim to provide IT-based services to rural populations in India. Several features distinguish these projects from others: a combination of public and private efforts, and goals of commercial sustainability. We draw lessons from comparing different approaches in similar localities. While the goals of the two organizations studied are similar, we identify some important differences in implementation that may have more general implications for the success of such projects.

Keywords: India, South Asia, information technology, Internet, rural development

JEL Classification: O12, O3, L31, P2