Strategies and Business Models for Improving Broadband Connectivity in Latin America and the Caribbean: Guidelines for the Planning, Investment, and Rollout of Broadband Networks

Achieving universal and affordable digital connectivity is an essential goal for all countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Although significant progress has been made to advance the state of connectivity for the countries in this region, there are still significant challenges ahead (both from the private and public sector perspectives): high financial and operating risks; energy supply issues; poor coordination among regulatory and policy making bodies; lack of public sector capacity and resources, and the absence of a conducive investment and regulatory climate that promotes investment and competitive principles. The objective of this report is to: first, make a compilation and analysis of global business and financial models, best practices, innovations and progresses around the topic of digital infrastructure, including middle and last mile connectivity; and second, serve as a guidance tool for policy makers, regulators, government officials as well as private sector and community leaders in LAC, to better assess alternatives for improving broadband connectivity, and tailor best practices and approaches to their own country's needs.

Data Ownership

This chapter explores legal issues concerning ownership of data collected, shared, used, and transmitted via wearable technologies. Such widespread information sharing raises privacy concerns that existing legal protections do not address. The author analyzes prevailing legal regulatory climate surrounding data privacy, such as health laws and privacy policies. Next, the author highlights the inadequacy of these legal instruments and explicate the legal framework of intellectual property laws to determine ways to provide individuals with more control over their personal data.

Interactive Effects of Business Environment Assessment and Institutional Programs on Opportunity Entrepreneurship

The study of the institutional characteristics that create favorable environments for opportunity entrepreneurship is critical. We seek to determine how government programs intended to support entrepreneurship impact how potential entrepreneurs view the business environment. We evaluate the effectiveness of institutional programs and the interactions between them and market optimism. We conduct a binomial regression to evaluate the probability of opportunity entrepreneurship, given the perceived quality of the business and regulatory environments. The results indicate that both have a significant influence, while the regulatory dimensions interact with the effects of the perceived quality of the business environment. We find that individuals who have optimism regarding entrepreneurship still seek assurance of a positive regulatory environment before they act. We find that those who consider it to contain promising entrepreneurship opportunities still seek a positive regulatory climate and supportive government programs before acting. Programs that create favorable financial access can encourage entrepreneurs attracted by financial returns. Similarly, favorable government programs that ensure expansion and growth may reinforce this financial optimism. Our study also adds to the literature on institutional economics, providing evidence that effective institutional factors require productive behaviors from individuals.

Import of Electronic Waste into Nigeria: the Imperative of a Regulatory Policy Shift

This article explores the regulation of transboundary movement of e-waste into Nigeria. The country has had an unsavoury history with the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes, and this has likely influenced its strict legislative response to such imports, including the decision to ban the transboundary movement of e-waste. However, the effectiveness of the ban is doubtful, as the importation of non-functional electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) or near-end-of-life EEE (which is classified as e-waste in Nigeria), is still thriving. The failure of the ban in curbing the transboundary movement of e-waste into Nigeria obliges policy makers to come up with new and innovative means to address this issue. It posits that the ban does not show an appreciation of the socio-economic realities and the generally weak regulatory climate in the country. The article thus argues for a shift in policy from outright ban of e-waste imports into Nigeria to more effective regulation and sustainable management.

The degree of awareness of the principals of the government high schools in the governorate of Irbid for the management of change and its relation to the effectiveness of these schools

The study aimed at revealing the degree of awareness of the principals of the governmental secondary schools in Irbid Governorate for the management of change and their relation to the effectiveness of these schools. The researcher used the descriptive approach. In order to achieve the objective of the study, the researcher constructed a questionnaire, , And the results showed that the degree of awareness of high school principals in the governorate of Irbid for change management is high and with a mean (4.01). The order of the fields ranked in descending order according to the level of fields: the field of school administration, reached (4.15) Teaching, Reached (3.96), the regulatory climate field, and was (3.92).obaha grade (high), also showed a strong correlation by (0.86), the degree of awareness of public secondary school principals in the governorate of Irbid to manage change effectively and their relationship to those schools. In the light of the results, a number of recommendations and proposals were presented to raise the level of awareness of change management among high school principals.