Caribbean Quarterly Economic Bulletin: Volume 10: Issue 3, January 2022

This edition reviews the long-term performance of economic growth and productivity in the region. It then draws on research from the Inter-American Development Banks Connectivity, Markets, and Finance Division that estimates how much investment in digital infrastructure is needed for countries across Latin America and the Caribbean to reach the levels of advanced economies. This research also estimates both the potential economic benefits associated with that investment and its costs, highlighting the potentially large multipliers associated with closing digital infrastructure gaps. The highlights of the analysis are as follows. It is estimated that closing the digital access gap between Caribbean economies and members countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) could potentially increase the regions GDP by about 6 to 12 percent over the medium term, depending on the country. These gains are multiples of the estimated costs, ranging from about 2 times to nearly 50 times those estimated costs. Productivity gains represent about 80 percent of the estimated improvements in GDP. As is typical with the Caribbean Quarterly Bulletin, the Regional Overview is followed by country sections that provide more detailed analysis for each of the countries covered.

Development Trends of Digital Infrastructure

The goal of this chapter is to analyze the main trends in the development of information communication technology (ICT) infrastructure and to discuss ICT strategies for decision-making in the 21st century. The chapter begins with a discussion of the development of the internet and its impact on civilization and human society. Next, the chapter considers the development of smartphone applications as well as other technologies used for personal communication. After this, developments in hardware and machine software platforms are considered. The chapter concludes by analyzing three trends: developments in computer architecture, developments in computer design, and developments in IT design.

Deep Mediatization: Rethinking a Figurational Approach

The article analyzes the possibilities and limitations of the figurative approach to the deep mediatization study, developed by Andreas Hepp and Nick Couldrie. To what extent is figurative theoretical optics sensitive to the processes of social worlds and practices transformation under the media influence? What are the possible directions of revision and further development of this approach? The figurative approach to deep mediatization is a powerful theoretical tool to explore this complex, non-linear meta-process. Focusing on figurations helps to avoid media centrism and emphasize the social life procedurality. At the same time, the figurations concept (understood as collectives, organizations, and institutions) raises some questions. In particular, the thesis about special media ensembles inherent in different figurations does not always work. This is due to the emergence of multifunctional platforms that can become a single digital infrastructure for many figurations. Such platforms have the potential of the ecosystem for a mediatized social life. Further analysis of the relationship between figurations and platforms is required, which does not reduce platforms only to the technological component of figurations. Bridging the deep divide between human actors and technology would also lead to new readings of medialogics (such as human-machine logics).

The Dutch “Digi Commissioner” (2014-2018)

The Dutch governmental digital infrastructure (Generic Digital Infrastructure; GDI) is a vital element of state functioning. This article investigates the governance of the GDI as exemplified by the activities of the Digi Commissioner (officially the ‘National Coordinator Digital Government’). In 2014 the Digi Commissioner was made responsible for coordinating and re-structuring GDI-governance. Early 2018 his tasks were transferred to the Ministry of Interior Affairs. Some progress was made, but according to the Digi Commissioner himself the GDI still leaves much to be desired and is far from future proof. The article will discuss the Dutch digital infrastructure by adopting several perspectives. First, by defining and describing the development of the GDI. Second, by analysing the activities and achievements of the Digi Commissioner. Third, by applying behavioural economics and securitization concepts offering relevant insights with regard to the (lack of) GDI-progress.

Real Time Implementation of ESP Predictive Analytics - Towards Value Realization from Data Science

Failure Prediction in Oil and Gas Artificial Lift Systems is materializing through the implementation of advanced analytics driven by physics-based models. During the Phase I of this project, two early failure prediction machine learning models were trained offline with historical data and evaluated through a blind test. The next challenge, Phase II, is to operationalize these models on Real-Time and re-assess their accuracy, precision and early prediction (in days) while having the assets focusing on either extending the runtime through optimization, chemical injection, etc. or proactive pump replacement (PPR) for high producers wells with triggered early prediction alarms. The paper details Phase II of live prediction for two assets consisting of 740 wells to enable data-driven insights in engineers’ daily workflow. In Phase I, a collaboration between SMEs and Data Scientists was established to build two failure prediction models for Electrical Submersible Pumps (ESP) using historical data that could identify failure prone wells along with the component at risk with high precision. Phase II entails the development of a Real-Time scoring pipeline to avail daily insights from this model for live wells. To achieve this, PDO leveraged its Digital Infrastructure for extraction of high-resolution measured data for 750 wells daily. A Well Management System (WMS) automatically sustains physics-based ESP models to calculate engineering variables from nodal analysis. Measured and engineered data are sampled, and referencing learnt patterns, the machine learning algorithm (MLA) estimates the probability of failure based on a daily rolling data window. An Exception Based Surveillance (EBS) system tracks well failure probability and highlights affected wells based on business logic. A visualization is developed to facilitate EBS interpretation. All the above steps are automated and synchronized among data historian, WMS and EBS System to operate on a daily schedule. From the Asset, at each highlighted exception, a focus team of well owners and SME initiate a review to correlate the failure probability with ESP signatures to validate the alarm. Aided by physics-based well models, action is directed either towards a) optimization, b) troubleshooting or c) proactive pump replacement in case of inevitable failure conditions. This workflow enables IT infrastructure and Asset readiness to benefit from various modeling initiatives in subsequent phases. Live Implementation of Exceptions from Predictive Analytics is an effective complement to well owners for prioritization of well reviews. Based on alarm validity, risk of failure and underperformance – optimizations, PPRs or workover scheduling are performed with reliability. This methodology would enable a Phase III of scaling up in Real-Time with growing assets wherethe system would be periodically retrained on True Negatives and maintained automatically with minimum manual intervention. It is experienced that a high precision model alone is not enough to reap the benefits of Predictive Analytics. The ability to operate in a production mode and embedding insights into decisions and actions, determines ROI on Data Science initiatives. Digital Infrastructure, a Real Time Well Modeling Platform and Cognitive adaptation of analytics by Well Owners are key for this operationalization that demands reliable data quality, computational efficiency, and data-driven decisions philosophy.

Technological landscape of the Russian agroindustry: how to make right digital infrastructure?

The relevance of the topic of the study is due to the strategic importance of increasing the productivity of the agro-industrial complex of Russia to ensure national food security and implementation of the policy of food import substitution, as well as overcoming the technological gap in comparison with the world leaders of agrobusiness and the soonest way to sustainable intensive growth. There is a significant technological gap in the agro-industrial complex in terms of ensuring smart growth of agribusinesses based on digital technologies and solutions, which negatively affects its production, export potential and financial condition. The purpose of the research is to study the problems and prospects of the development of digital infrastructure in the agro-industrial complex of the Russian Federation. The study considers the conceptual apparatus, conducted a statistical study of activity in the digitalization of agriculture by agribusiness, priority business models of agriculture in the digital economy; the assessment of investment activity with regard to the formation of digital infrastructure, the priorities for the development of digital services and solutions. The conclusion of the scientific research identifies the main problems in the formation of digital infrastructure in the agro-industrial complex.

Digital Pitfalls: The Politics of Digitalization in Bangladesh

The state-led investment in digital infrastructure under the ruling party’s political agenda of “Digital Bangladesh” has given rise to scholarly and policy debates, especially around issues of digital surveillance and media censorship. Such concerns have intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article analyzes contemporary Bangladesh in the context of emerging trends related to the digitalization of society. In particular, I employ the concept of “digital pitfalls” to explore the state’s use of surveillance and the politics of fear to limit freedom of expression and silence critical voices in the digital age.

Features of tax control of the new EU countries: the example of Latvia

The paper substantiates comprehensive approaches to the formation of an effective mechanism for tax control of income and expenses of taxpayers in the Baltic States, in particular in Latvia. In order to effectively implement methods of controlling income and expenditure on a legal basis, first of all, it is necessary to start comprehensive and persistent fight against shadow income. Methodological approaches should include: attracting public investment to create an information digital infrastructure for processing declarations; the elimination of shadow flows, as well as the implementation of universal declaration using indirect methods of determining tax liabilities and the general modernization of the tax system. The anti-corruption strategy of modern state legislation should be aimed not only at the inevitability of punishment for corrupt practices, but also at the consistent elimination of the conditions for corruption.

Evaluation of Key Factor of Digital Economy in European Union

Research purpose. This article presents insights on the concept and key factors of the digital economy based on a literature review. The article focuses on the identification of the factors of the digital economy and evaluation of their importance in terms of the European Union countries. The aim of the article is to determine the factors of the digital economy and evaluate their importance. Design / Methodology / Approach. Panel regression analysis was used to evaluate which indicator of selected digital economy indicators is the most important. Panel regression was chosen to have an overall view of all European Union as one unit. Findings. Digital technologies are radically changing the way society, business or the whole economy operates. The survey of this article reveals that the high-quality infrastructure of the internet plays an essential role in the digital economy. In order to create value and improve the ICT sector performance in the whole economy, high-quality infrastructure in terms of the internet is needed. Only fast and high-stability connection ensures needed infrastructure and development in the digital economy. Business and government should invest in high-quality internet infrastructure to ensure the steady growth of the digital economy. To take full advantage of digital infrastructure and the digital economy, individuals should use it daily. Daily usage of the internet has a positive effect on the percentage for the ICT sector in GDP regardless of activities on the internet. Originality / Value / Practical implications. Definition of the digital economy was suggested: the digital economy is considered to be all economic activities that include using or creating digital technologies to generate value-added of digital enablers and development of digital infrastructure, which is the key factor of the digital economy. High quality and available for everyone internet access is crucial for steady growth and the best performance of the digital economy. This study has several practical contributions. This survey may serve as a guide for understanding the concept and the factors of the digital economy for other researchers. We also propose a potential explanation why countries should invest in high technology infrastructure, and these results can help to create a new strategy for ICT sector expansion in different countries.

Amalsad cooperative ltd: total cost of ownership for digital services

Structured abstract Rendering digital services have taken centerstage in the current ICT for development discourse. E-Government services are mostly under this discourse with the aim to provide citizen centric services in the public domain. Business and development organizations alike are also investing in developing their own digital infrastructure for rendering services to its stakeholders. This case describes scenario in which a cooperative organization wishes to use digital infrastructure and provide digital services to its farmer members. The cooperative continued investing in ICT since the last couple of decades and constantly upgraded it to ease the transaction and bring efficiency and reduce information asymmetry. This had greatly benefitted the members. However, the cooperative is aware that its communication network built on the wireless medium has its own limitations in introducing new services and integrating its databases and applications. The cooperative took note of “Digital India (DI)” initiatives to provide digital services to rural areas and build an ecosystem to empower the citizens in its governance set up. This DI policy has implicit provisions of better networking protocols with improved bandwidth. The organization has a dilemma to continue with investing its own resources or explore possibility of piggybacking on the DI initiative. The cooperative wished to examine the total cost of ownership in either case and assess the feasibility of converging with the infrastructure created by the government. Case synopsis The Government Information Technology Policies are increasingly favouring citizens and in favour of shared infrastructure and services. It is worth the examination to evaluate strategies to deploy IT infrastructure and services with optimized cost and better returns in an enterprise. This is far more important for a social enterprise like AMALSAD cooperative (user-owned firm) that has deployed its own IT infrastructure and ITeS. AMALSAD cooperative deployed its IT assets long back and in the meanwhile, the Government policy is in favour of providing services over the internet. Leaning objectives The case serves to help students to understand the theoretical concept of Enterprise information systems infrastructure and services. It brings to the students understanding: the drivers of IT infrastructure to provide digital services; challenges that would make the social enterprise (in this case user-owned firm) to understand the opportunities and challenges of deploying the right digital infrastructure and get services on demand. The case presents the scenarios for the students to deliberate and find answers to the right approach for estimating the total cost of ownership (TCO). Social implications The case situation presents a scenario for digital government services. Most of the customer-facing enterprises including social enterprises are also providing digital services. It is important that such services converge at an optimized TCO. Complexity academic level Masters in Business Administration with a concentration in Information Systems. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 7: Management Science.