Skip to main content
Project

Information Networks and Social Inclusion in Latin America
 

South America
Project ID
107601
Total Funding
CAD 735,100.00
IDRC Officer
Matthew Smith
Project Status
Completed
End Date
Duration
24 months

Programs and partnerships

Networked Economies

Lead institution(s)

Summary

Rapid changes in information networks throughout Latin America may provide new opportunities to address inequalities in the region.Read more

Rapid changes in information networks throughout Latin America may provide new opportunities to address inequalities in the region. This project will generate high-quality research to inform policymakers and practitioners about the development impact of new information and communication technologies (ICTs)-and how to make them more socially inclusive.

Despite favourable conditions for social and economic development, such as high commodity prices and more effective democratic governance, development challenges in Latin America remain. Perhaps most starkly, the region is home to countries with very high levels of structural inequality. To address these inequalities, we must better understand the benefits of broader connectivity in the region. This will allow us to gauge the extent to which government interventions, such as broadband adoption plans, benefit all segments of society.

The research team will evaluate how and how much poor and marginalized groups are participating and receiving the benefits of the new levels of connectivity across the region. These benefits may include increased employment and livelihood opportunities, for example.

More specifically, the project will include three research elements:
-how online labour and financing platforms create opportunities for gainful employment for women and youth;
-the Digital Poverty Survey 2.0; and,
-research on the affordability of mobile phones and the Internet, with a focus on the poor's spending patterns in Latin America.

The project will also:
-deepen knowledge on the relationship between ICT access and the poor in Latin America;
-establish a better understanding of meaningful use and participation in open development processes, such as open government and open education, with specific attention paid to women and youth in urban settings;
-provide recommendations to policymakers and practitioners on appropriate regulatory policies and ICT initiatives that maximize benefits for the poor; and,
-build young scholars' capacities to enter the field and carry out high-quality research projects.

Research outputs

Access full library of outputs Opens in new tab
Article
Language:

English

Summary

This article shows results from an impact evaluation of a pilot project led by the Mexican government, which concerns the financial inclusion challenges in Mexico and Latin America. Where highly dispersed populations in rural communities lack access to a financial system and telecommunication services, mobile banking can reduce spending on communications and public transport. The main benefits in terms of spending come from the reduction of people’s commuting expenses. Evidence also indicates that a major share of spending reduction is transformed into savings in bank accounts. The case study presents mobile banking policy alternatives, promoting financial and digital inclusion for rural communities.

Author(s)
Renteria, Cesar
Informes
Language:

Spanish

Summary
Author(s)
Barrantes, Roxana
Article
Language:

English

Summary

As the global population of older adults grows, the Internet emerges as a tool for social inclusion as well as a means of improving various aspects of quality of life. This paper focuses on the role of younger people in the process of Internet adoption by older adults. Regression analysis confirms that younger people living in a household play a pivotal role in the adoption process, but not in intensity of use. Results show three significant factors: presence of a spouse, perception of the Internet as a waste of time, and perception of the Internet as a need.

Author(s)
Barrantes Cáceres, Roxana
Study
Language:

English

Summary

Findings shed light on how differentials in traditional labor markets play out in online labor environments. Results corroborate that discrimination takes place based on a worker’s country of origin, yet also indicate that this discrimination decreases when more information about workers’ quality is available to employers. Further, contrary to some findings in traditional labor markets, women have a small hiring advantage particularly among female employers. However, women are less likely to submit bids and tend to ask for lower wages, particularly when bargaining with male employers. Payoffs for landing the first job are large for individual contractors, but also help build country reputation.

Author(s)
Galperin, Hernan
Viecens, M. Fernanda
Greppi, Catrihel
Study
Language:

English

Summary

The purpose of this paper is to understand the state of broadband price, speed and affordability in 19 Latin American countries, using data from a study by DIRSI of plans offered in the region.
Analysis of the indicators shows that the region has advanced in terms of quality of access (speeds offered), although price outcomes are less optimistic. Disparities between countries are very significant, however. While some countries show significant progress, others lag in a high percentage of the indicators.

Author(s)
Viecens, María Fernanda
Access full library of outputs Opens in new tab