Global Information Technology Report 2005-2006

The use and application of ICT continues to be an important factor driving economic growth. The World Economic Forum, in collaboration with INSEAD, is pleased to announce the release of the fifth edition of the annual Global Information Technology Report - a comprehensive tool for measuring the progress made in the adoption of the latest information and communication technologies and identifying the obstacles to ICT development in over 100 countries worldwide. The Networked Readiness Index included in the report provides the most comprehensive assessment of how prepared an economy is to capture the benefits of technology to promote economic growth and productivity. This study explicitly considers the roles played by the major stakeholders - individuals, businesses and governments, in relation to three dimensions: the environment for the development and use of ICT, the readiness of stakeholders to leverage the potential of ICT, and the degree of usage of ICT. The selection of insightful essays, detailed country profiles for more than 100 economies and data tables on approximately 50 different ICT indicators presented in the report provide a useful guide for the design and formulation of policy measures aimed at capturing the benefits of ICT.