Information School News

Small-scale and localised innovation is increasingly seen as an important part of the activites of marginal producers in the Global South. Yet, given that such innovation is often difficult to identify and measure, it has rarely been explored as part of evidence-based policy. A recently post on the Sheffield Institute of International Development (SIID) blog by Information School Lecturer Dr Chris Foster looks to explore how we might start to quantify and build evidence-based research on such activities. It is based on research undertaken with Kenyan horticulture farmers. This blog accompanies a recently released paper on this topic written by Chris alongside ODI economist Aarti Krishnan.

Last week saw the release of the UNCTAD Information Economy Report for 2017. This is a flagship report that is distributed amongst policy makers globally and often sets the agenda for policy around ICT and digital in developing countries. This years' focus is on ‘Digitalization, Trade and Development’.                        Information School lecturer Christopher Foster has been closely involved in this years report, contributing to chapters which explore the practical and policy implications of digitalisation in small firms. This work, which draws on his research examines the current state of digitalisation within small exporting firms and some of the potential gains and challenges related to digital exclusion, platforms and automation. His background paper on the topic " Digitalisation and Trade: What Hope for Lower Income Countries? " is now available. The wider Information Economy Report provides an extensive outlin...

Information School lecturer Chris Foster recently published a new post on the SPERI comment blog entitled " The balancing act of Brexit and digital trade " As the UK leaves the EU it risks a potential ‘digital cliff-edge’. How it navigates its way through global tensions around digital trade rules will orientate the shape of the economy for years to come. This post is part of his ongoing research looking at cross-border data flows and the political economy of digital trade.

The World Investment Report is the flagship annual report produced by the UN Conference on Trade and Development ( UNCTAD ). This year it will focus on the importance of investment in the digital economy, highlighting that the digital economy is increasingly a crucial aspect of national economies, both in the Global North and South. Dr Chris Foster (Information School) was part of last week’s Expert Group Meeting in Geneva, which is supporting the production of this report. His contribution was based upon his previous in-depth research on the digital economy in East Africa, as well as his work on policy constraints and drivers for effective digital innovation. The report, the first to explore the global implications of the digital economy related to foreign investment, will be released in June 2017