GTIPA Perspectives: The Vital Importance of Digital Inclusivity for Economic Growth

The Global Trade and Innovation Policy Alliance (GTIPA) represents a global network of over 50 independent, like-minded think tanks from over 30 countries around the world who believe trade, globalization, and innovation—conducted on market-led, rules-based terms—can maximize welfare for the world’s citizens. The Alliance exists to collectively amplify members’ voices and enhance their impact on trade, globalization, and innovation policy issues while introducing new scholarship into the world on these subjects.

Among their shared principles, GTIPA members are committed to approaching globalization and trade through an innovation-based perspective. This perspective recognizes the immense potential of innovation in improving existing processes, products, services, and business models, and its role in expanding economies and promoting sustainable development.

This report details how information and communications technology (ICT) is driving global economic growth and economic opportunity. It details how countries are taking effective steps to deploy digital infrastructure, enhance citizens’ digital skills and literacy, empower women and disabled citizens to leverage digital tools, and helping small- and medium-sized enterprises take advantage of digital technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, robotics, big data, and other technologies. This matters, especially when the digital economy now accounts for nearly 25 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP). Moreover, 75 percent of the value added by data flows over the Internet accrues within traditional industries, meaning that all industries within a nation have a vital stake in digitalization.

This volume compiles vignettes from fifteen countries and one region: Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Germany, Ghana, India, Ireland, Italy, Korea, the Philippines, Poland, South Africa, Ukraine, and the United States, including the San Francisco Bay Area.