Information Economy

The Information Economy group examines the economic and social implications of the development, diffusion and use of ICTs, the Internet and e-business, and related policies.

The Working Party on the Information Economy focuses on digital content, ICT diffusion to businessICT-enabled offshoring, ICT skills and employment and produces the Information Technology Outlook. The Working Party has prepared a Recommendation on public sector information

Work is underway on ICTs and the environment. and on ICTs and the economic recovery.

WPIE in the news.

What's new

Smart sensor networks - technologies and applications for green growth

12-Jan-2010

Sensor networks play an important role in tackling environmental challenges. Sensor applications in smart power grids, smart buildings and smart industrial processes make significant contributions to more efficient resource use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants. This report gives an overview of sensor technologies and applications, and quantifies their environmental impacts.

DSTI and global partners discuss the role of “Green ICTs” at COP15 – without leaving their offices

on 09-Dec-2009

The OECD used latest video-conferencing technology to hold an international discussion in real-time at the UN Climate Change talks in Copenhagen (COP15). The topic was: “The role of ICTs for climate change. Lead role or supporting act?”. It involved speakers in Denmark, India, Hong Kong (China), France and Japan sitting around a “virtual” table and facing each other in high definition. A filmed webcast is available.

Employment in the ICT sector continues dropping

17-Nov-2009

Employment is continuing to drop in the information and communications technology (ICT) goods sector and remaining flat in most ICT services, according to a new OECD report.

Plan Avanza: An Information Society Strategy for Spain

on 10-Dec-2009

Plan Avanza highlights Spain’s leading position in the information and knowledge society. As part of its review, the OECD and the Government of Spain hosted an international workshop with policy experts of other national Information Society (IS) strategies to discuss policy design and the common challenges and shared solutions for good governance in information society strategies.

OECD events at the Internet Governance Forum (IGF)

from 14-Nov-2009 to 18-Nov-2009

The OECD organised several events at the IGF in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, including workshops on 'Global ICT services sourcing post-crisis', on 'Expanding access to the Internet and broadband for development' and on 'Using ICTs and the Internet to meet environmental challenges', as well as an open forum on 'The importance of Internet Access and Openness for a sustainable economic recovery'.

“Green ICT” side-event at UN Climate Change talks in Barcelona

on 05-Nov-2009

Innovation in ICTs is key to achieving ambitious CO2 emissions reductions. At the UN Climate Change talks in Barcelona - four weeks ahead of COP15 - the OECD, ITU, GeSI and international partners discussed how ICTs can help combat global warming.

The impact of the crisis on ICT and ICT-related employment

28-Oct-2009

This paper provides an overview of short-term and long-term developments in ICT employment trends. Preliminary analysis of available indicators shows that employment is dropping in the ICT sector - notably in ICT goods sectors and mostly remaining flat in ICT services. The paper also highlights some niche ICT activities where ICT employment is increasing despite the crisis.

Improving measurement of links between ICT and environmental outcomes

31-Jul-2009

This report explores available statistics and data from official statistical sources and from product life cycle studies, suggests a conceptual framework for the statistical field “ICT and the environment” and makes recommendations on how to improve statistical collection.

ICT industry poised to rebound, says new OECD report

28-Jul-2009

Is the ICT industry recovering?   Global production and trade of information and communications technology goods turned up sharply in May and June – and ICTs may be among the first of crisis-stricken industries to start growing again, according to a new OECD report. After plunging 30-40% earlier this year, Asian production is now showing month-to-month improvement and China is up nearly 3%
year-on-year.

OECD releases Guide to Measuring the Information Society 2009

08-Jul-2009

The newly released Guide to the Information Society 2009 covers the definition of industries producing ICT goods and services (the "ICT sector"), a classification for ICT goods, the definitions of e-commerce and Internet transactions, and model questionnaires and methodologies for measuring ICT use and e-commerce by businesses and households/individuals.

The Role of Digital Identity Management in the Internet Economy

29-Jun-2009

This primer aims to provide policy makers a broad-brush understanding of the various dimensions of digital identity management (IdM). Consistent with the Seoul Ministerial Declaration, it also aims to support efforts to address public policy issues for securely managing and protecting digital identities, with a view to strengthening confidence in the online activities crucial to the growth of the Internet Economy.

Ministers stress the role of ICTs as part of global green growth agenda

26-Jun-2009

Clean technologies and smart ICT applications are key to effectively fight climate change, protect biodiversity and manage our water resources. In the declaration on green growth, ministers from OECD countries and beyond underscore that “green” and “growth” can go hand in hand.

OECD releases new ICT product definitions

10-Jun-2009

This document presents the OECD definition of Information Economy Products based on the Central Product Classification Version 2.

Conference on “ICTs, the environment and climate change”

from 27-May-2009 to 28-May-2009

On 27-28 May 2009, the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation hosted a high-level OECD conference on the potential of information and communication technologies to combat climate change and improve environmental performance. Live webcast and Twitter feed available. Internet users had the possibility to send in questions for speakers.

UK-OECD Workshop on Innovation and Policy for Virtual Worlds

on 11-Mar-2009

How can virtual worlds contribute to innovation, to transformation of business, government and public services and to increasing transparency, improving innovative services delivery, and creating employment?
Should public policy frameworks be adapted to support governments, citizens, and businesses using virtual worlds to improve their performance? If so how?

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Latest edition released end-2008

OECD Information Technology Outlook 2008

Strengthening Consumer Protection in the Internet Economy

OECD Conference on Empowering E-Consumers