Synopses & Reviews
This book is about the intriguing subject of measuring the New Economy, which in brief means ICT and its impact on society. It brings to the surface various old and new statistical issues which call for a solution, not in the least because politicians in the EU wish to be reliably enlightened on how the EU is performing vis-Ã-vis countries such as the US and Japan. Moreover, globalisation increases its priority as the burgeoning economic force of countries like China and India intensify international competition.
The EUâs Lisbon strategy for the EU to âbecome the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustaining economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesionâ (European Council, 2000) has increased the need for benchmark indicators. This has unleashed a fervent drive to improve the statistical basis for such indicators. In the beginning, the policy makers tended to emphasise timeliness. For their annual reporting on the Lisbon strategy, they wanted readily available up-to-date statistical indicators and for that matter initiated a number of quick surveys.
However, the National Statistical Institutes (NSIs) protested against this procedure, pointing out that results from these quick surveys were below any reasonable quality standard. The NSIs made it a point of honour to do a better job. They indeed were given an opportunity to contribute and produce a greater proportion of the needed benchmark indicators. This in particular applies to the benchmark indicators relating to the eEurope action plans. These indicators focus on the levels of connection to the internet by consumers and business and the degree to which e-commerce, e-government, e-health and e-education have developed. Other existing sources of benchmark indicators in the field of the New Economy and the knowledge-based economy are the European Innovation Score Board and the science and technology indicators of the European Research Area . These show that the New Economyis seen within a broad context of economic development. Therefore, it is also justified to add to these sets of indicators the EUâs Structural Performance Indicators.
Along with these developments, there have been a considerable number of research projects which critically reflected on existing indicators and developed new ones where deemed necessary. On the EU level, the SINE programme has given rise to various research projects which focus on the New Economy. One of these projects was the NESIS project, which Statistical Netherlands participated in, leading to the publication âThe EU-15âs New Economy: A Statistical Portraitâ , presenting app. 50 indicators on the New Economy. Besides this publication, other reports on different topics were issued. This book contains various chapters written by authors who in one way or another contributed to the NESIS project; they could draw on this work when writing their chapter.
*Examines ICT and its impact on society
*Suggests benchmarks and key indicators for the new economy
*Authors contributed to the NESIS project and are experts on the subject
What benchmarks and key indicators should be used in the new economy?