联合国贸发会-2019年数字经济报告（英文）-2019.9.4-194页_8mb

Summary of the Digital Economy Report 2019: Value Creation and Capture – Implications for Developing Countries

Core Content

The Digital Economy Report 2019 (DER 2019), formerly known as the Information Economy Report, explores the implications of the digital economy for developing countries, with a focus on value creation and capture. It emphasizes the need for inclusive growth, policy innovation, and international cooperation to ensure that the benefits of digital transformation are widely shared.

Main Components

1. Digital Economy Overview

• The digital economy is growing rapidly and has the potential to transform societies and economies.
• It is driven by digital data and platformization, both of which are reshaping global economic structures.
• The report highlights the risk of wealth concentration and the widening digital divide, which disproportionately affects developing countries.

2. Emerging Digital Technologies

• The report outlines several key technologies driving the digital economy, including:
  • Blockchain
  • 3D printing
  • Internet of Things (IoT)
  • 5G mobile broadband
  • Cloud computing
  • Automation and robotics
  • Artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics

3. Data Traffic and Data Centres

• Global Internet Protocol (IP) traffic has increased significantly, from about 100 GB/day in 1992 to over 45,000 GB/sec in 2017.
• By 2022, it is projected to reach 150,700 GB/sec, driven by increased internet access and IoT adoption.
• Data is central to the digital economy, forming a new value chain that includes collection, processing, storage, and monetization.

4. Access to and Use of ICT

• Connectivity trends show rapid growth in internet access globally, but significant gaps within countries persist.
• The gender gap in internet use remains a challenge, especially in developing economies.
• Mobile money and digital payment solutions are becoming more prevalent, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

5. E-Commerce and Technology Companies

• E-commerce is growing rapidly, with major global players such as Amazon, Alibaba, and eBay dominating the market.
• Technology companies are expanding into new sectors and influencing global policy through lobbying and engagement in international forums.

6. Value Creation in the Digital Economy

• The report outlines the drivers of value creation in the digital economy:
  • Digital platforms (transaction and innovation platforms)
  • Data and digital intelligence, which underpin the value chain and monetization.
• It also discusses the framework for assessing value, including distribution, upgrading, governance, and the distinction between creation and capture.

7. Challenges in Measuring Value

• Measuring the digital economy remains difficult due to the complexity of data and the lack of standardized metrics.
• The report includes examples of how digital spillover effects and national initiatives can help estimate the value of the digital economy.

8. Global Perspective on Value Creation and Capture

• Major digital platforms are increasingly shaping global value chains (GVCs) and influencing taxation and labor policies.
• There is a growing concern about market concentration, information asymmetry, and the need for international collaboration to address these issues.

9. Developing Countries' Opportunities and Constraints

• Developing countries face challenges in building domestic productive capacity and leveraging local and regional digital platforms.
• The report highlights the importance of digital entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems, which are often hindered by:
  • Small and fragmented markets
  • Limited access to finance
  • Inadequate skills and infrastructure
  • Inequitable access to global platforms

10. Policy Recommendations

• The report suggests a range of national policies to support digital value creation and capture, including:
  • Enhancing ICT infrastructure
  • Developing legal and regulatory frameworks
  • Promoting skills development
  • Facilitating access to financing
• It also emphasizes the need for data policies that promote ownership, privacy, and security, as well as international cooperation to regulate cross-border data flows and taxation.

Key Information

• Digital platforms are a major force in the economy, with 7 of the top 8 global companies using platform-based models.
• Data ownership and governance are critical for ensuring fair value capture and preventing exploitation.
• E-commerce and digital entrepreneurship offer significant opportunities for developing countries, but require supportive ecosystems and policies.
• Global data value chains are becoming more prominent, with implications for trade, taxation, and labor markets.
• Inclusivity and capacity building are essential for developing countries to benefit from the digital economy and avoid being left behind.

Conclusion

The Digital Economy Report 2019 underscores the transformative potential of the digital economy but also the risks of inequality and exclusion. It calls for policy experimentation, international collaboration, and inclusive strategies to ensure that the digital economy benefits all, particularly developing countries. The report highlights the importance of building local capabilities, supporting digital entrepreneurship, and developing comprehensive data policies to enable equitable value creation and capture.