Current Situation:
Figures published by the World Bank shows that the total external debt per country is as follows.
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Indonesia $132.2bn
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India $104.4bn
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Thailand $59.2bn
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Malaysia $48.6bn
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Sri Lanka $9.6bn
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Somalia $2.7bn
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Seychelles $560m
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Maldives $270m
The annual repayment cost for theses countries are as follows:
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Indonesia $13.7bn
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India $13bn
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Thailand $17.9bn
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Sri Lanka $653m
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Maldives $20.8m
In Africa the debt crises is so bad that around 315 million Africans live on less than $1 a day.
The G7 minister are planning to cancel up to 100% of the debt owed, this would mean that around 37 developing counties would benefit from this proposed scheme. According to the JDC (Jubilee Debt Campaign), only $36.3bn, or less than 10%, of debt has been cancelled to date.
Pakistan has paid off most of its debt that was owed to US. This was done the incentives given by the American government and its allies in helping them in the US-led war on terrorism. This means that Pakistan can now start developing their country in line with developed countries, this can achieved by investing in health, education and technology.
Technology companies like Microsoft are also doing their part I helping build developing counties. Microsoft has announced to bring out a new operating system aimed at the developing counties. The new operating system will be a low-cost version of the original Window XP and will be called ‘Windows XP Starter’ and is to be piloted in 5 counties. This will help in educating and training people in developing counties for work and School.
IT as an Enabler:
Information technology is made up of two main factors, hardware and software that carry complex tasks such as capturing, storing and manipulating data. Information technology is widely use around the world in developed countries. IT has also help in producing a strong economical foundation within these counties, as it enables companies to produce their products more effectively and efficiently. As the technology sector is an ever growing market it is always creating new opportunities for business as well as to the general member of the public.
Unfortunately developing counties cannot take full advantage of information technology as they do not the funds to expand their technology as it is always changing with time. Without investment in technology Third World counties cannot create a stable economy within their country.
Legal and Ethical Issues:
There are numerous legal acts that cover the use technology, such as the Data Projection Act 1998 and Computer Misuse Act 1990. These acts can take-up an enormous role when developing a country using technology. These legislation cover business and individuals from the following scenario
- Altering, copying, moving or deleting programmes or files
- Using or trying to obtain someone else's password or personal information
- Spreading a computer virus (worms, trojans etc)
- Attempting to damage or crash a computer
Intellectual property (, , , and ) gives an individual or a business the opportunity to protect their work from other people getting their hands on it and mass producing their work without their permission. However this process may cause implication when developing a Third World country as business will want to use any means of technology on the market that would benefit their company.
Legislations such as the Human Right Act cover the ethical interest of the members of the public in any countries around the world. This act covers the rights individuals so that they have the right to a fair trail, freedom of expression, freedom of speech etc. When developing a Third World Country it is important that the country follow legislations like these as it helps keep an order within the country.
Ethics is related to how we as individuals should act when interacting with business and other individuals. There are two main ethical views, Deontological and Consequential. Deontological view is when an individual behaves in a way because it is the right thing to do. Consequential view is when an individual action is influenced by event taken place.
It is important to have good ethical issues in the Third World Countries. As they need to increase their economic growth it is important that when doing business that both parties have a goon understanding of each other, as they will intend to do business on a long-term basis. To do this individuals and business will have to have an open-mind, good approach
When using technology within a country is important that people have an open-mind on technology, as it is a vital factor in shaping the future economic growth of the country. As technology is an ever changing market many people many find it hard in keeping up with the changes within the market and so may start to give up and develop a dislike in the change in technology. This will then slow down the development of the country.
Recommendations:
To enable Third World countries to develop many actions have to be taken both by the Third World countries and developed countries.
Steps have already been taken in assisting Third World countries by the UK and other leading European countries by trying to cancel all debt owed to these countries. If this is carried out successfully then it will enable the countries to expand their economy as the money they used to pay towards paying of the debts can now invest that money in technology.
An excellent approach in developing countries was the simputer, if this technology could be produced in all developing countries, it would allow more users to explore the technology and the Internet. It would also allow people to trade over internet, which would generate money for the economy in their country.
However the Third World countries have to take advantage of the help they are receiving then they will not develop and their economy will remain in the same situation.
Sources:
BBC News:
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3578309.stm
- Accessed on 08/Feb/05
BBC News:
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4145007.stm
- Accessed on 08/Feb/05
BBC News:
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1560771.stm
- Accessed on 08/Feb/05
BBC News:
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3437493.stm
- Accessed on 10/Feb/05
Her Majesty’s Stationery Office:
- http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1990/Ukpg 19900018 en1.htm
- Accessed on 15/Feb/05
Her Majesty’s Stationery Office:
- http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/19980029.htm
- Accessed on 16/Feb/05
Microsoft.com:
- http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2004/aug04/0
811WinXPStarterPilotPR.asp
- Accessed on 10/Feb/05
