Why Technology Matters

Technology is also an engine for economic growth. Technological capability is one of the five categories for the Growth Environment Scores (GES), Goldman Sachs’ composite indicator of the economic growth environment in 181 countries. A GES study of countries in the Persian Gulf shows that technology is so critical to growth and economic well-being, that if lags in technology use were addressed, along with low levels of investment and human resource development, the region could effectively close its income gap with the G-7 countries by 2050.

Strong links also have been made between use of specific technologies and growth. Evidence indicates that economic growth in Malaysia and Thailand between 1995 and 2000 would have been negative without investments in information and communication technology (ICT).

THE GENDER AND TECHNOLOGY DIVIDE

Improving girl and women’s access to technology has the potential to spur their economic advancement and stimulate broader economic growth.  Sex-disaggregated statistics on technology use are generally not available since the private companies that provide technology services do not make their data public, and many governments do not routinely collect national statistics on technology, if at all. Generally, the gender divide in digital technology is larger in low- and middle-income countries, though it exists in both developed and developing countries. For example, in OECD countries, there is a gap of 40–60 percent between men and women’s presence in ICT-using occupations.

Globally, while many women use computers—mainly for data entry purposes—far fewer work in computer programming, or in designing computer software and hardware. The limited data available on women’s participation in computer science and engineering jobs around the world indicate that women are sorely under-represented in higher-skilled and higher-prestige positions. Lacking access to critical information and professional opportunities, women miss out on possibilities to increase their productivity and strengthen their economic participation.