The OECD Information Technology Outlook 2006 has been prepared by the OECD under the guidance of the OECD Committee for Information, Computer and Communications Policy (ICCP), and in particular its Working Party on the Information Economy. It is the eighth in a biennial series designed to provide member countries with a broad overview of trends and near-term prospects in the information technology (IT) industry, analysis of the growing impact of IT on the economy and society, emerging applications in selected areas of information technology and a review of IT policies and new policy directions. The 2006 edition builds on the 2004 edition to extend the economic and policy analysis.

The first four chapters provide an overview of the importance and growth of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in national economies, describe recent market dynamics, give a detailed overview of the globalisation of the ICT sector and provide a thorough analysis of the development of ICT-enabled international sourcing, with particular reference to India, and the development of  the information technology industry and the Internet in China. The next chapter provides an overview of the rapid rise of digital content and increasing online delivery in a range of industries; it is followed by a review of developments in the demand and supply of ICT skills and the impact of distance working and international sourcing on employment. The last two chapters examine recent IT applications that will be important in the medium term and provide an overview of IT policy developments and priorities in OECD countries. National information technology policy profiles are posted on the OECD Web site to enable their widespread diffusion (www.oecd.org/sti/information-economy).