Globalization of Information Technology

The process of economic globalization is seen perhaps most vividly in the information technology (IT) industry.  Computer hardware has been manufactured in global production networks since the early days of the personal computer, and software development is likewise becoming more globalized.  Most IT products and services are based on global standards, whether the "Wintel" PC standard or the open standards of the Internet.  IT use is linked to improved productivity and competitiveness, and the Internet and e-commerce technologies are being used to coordinate global operations in a variety of industries. 

CRITO has been studying the globalization of IT production and use for the past ten years, concentrating initially on the Asia-Pacific region and more recently on the Americas and Europe.  We have developed detailed case studies of national IT policies in twelve countries, five of which were included in the book Asia's Computer Challenge.  We also have conducted multi-country analyses on various topics, including the impacts of government promotion on IT production, productivity payoffs from IT use, national information infrastructure policies, and the impacts of liberalization on the IT sector. 

Current research projects include: new studies of national IT policy; a study of global IT production networks; and two projects analyzing the globalization of electronic commerce. Click the project names to the left for more information on these projects.