Patchwork Adoption of ICTs in Latin America

Abstract

This paper presents the idea of patchwork adoption, which refers to the coexistence of obsolete and state of the art technologies at the same time. Factors such as lower and unequal distribution of income, education, wired infrastructure, experience with information and communication technologies (ICTs), as well as the fact that most applications are designed and developed in high income countries, limits the ability of companies and the population at large to adopt the most recent technologies more broadly. The problem is not only that these economies are poorer but also that they experience greater disparity of income, wealth, and education. In terms of infrastructure cellular phones experienced an explosion but the low level of wired infrastructure in Latin America currently affects the adoption of more advanced ICTs that incorporate broadband. The design of systems and well as the quality standards that guide their development are also aimed at advanced economies. This has forced developers in Latin America to develop standards that fulfill their needs under limited resources. All of these factors lead to a patchwork adoption that contrasts with the familiar sshape adoption that high income countries experience. The role of government, as explained in the Brazilian case, can help to expand the use of these technologies and perhaps reduce the inequalities.

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