The OECD Information Economy Group (www.oecd.org/sti/information-economy) examines the economic and social implications of the development, diffusion and use of ICTs, the Internet and e-business. It analyses ICT policies shaping economic growth, employment and business performance, and more recently environmental performance and the economic crisis and recovery.

Analytical work includes studying the impact of information and communications technologies at national level and on the competitiveness of firms and market structure, the supply, demand and development of ICT skills and human resources, the "digital divide" across and within countries, and rapidly evolving areas including ICT services, the software sector and digital content.

Understanding and analysing the digital networked economy requires new measurement tools and new statistics. OECD definitions and methodologies for the ICT sector and ICT and Internet applications and use are being constantly updated, new work launched, and data compiled and analysed.

This work contributes to development and understanding of policies to meet the opportunities and challenges of ICTs and the information economy, and to ensuring that benefits are widely shared. Results appear in the biennial "OECD Information Technology Outlook" (www.oecd.org/sti/ito), in frequent publications and on the OECD Web site.

For more information see www.oecd.org/sti/information-economy

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