USA Africa Dialogue Series - Known-Knowns and Unknowns about the Internet: Measuring the Economic, Social, and Governance Impact of the Web

Policymakers and netizens alike make broad claims about the effects of the internet upon economic growth, business, democracy, governance, and human rights. In recent years, economists have made significant progress in estimating the impact of the internet on areas such as economic growth, trade, fiscal policy, and education. But the progress made by economists has not been matched by scholars, activists, executives, and policymakers who seek to understand the internet's effects on governance, cyber security, and on human rights. We don't know if the Internet has stimulated development or whether the internet has led to measurable governance improvements.  Moreover, scholars and activists don't yet know how to effectively measure Internet openness. We will also weigh the evidence that the Internet is splintering.