Rural Informatization in China

✍ Scribed by Zhen-Wei Qiang, Christine; Bhavnani, Asheeta; Hanna, Nagy K.; Kimura, Kaoru; Sudan, Randeep

• Publisher: World Bank Publications
• Year: 2009
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 70
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

"China's recent economic growth has expanded industrialization and urbanization, upgraded consumption, increased social mobility, and initiated a shift from an economy based on agriculture to one based on industry and services. However, more than half of China's people still live in rural areas-where average income per capita is less than a third of the urban average. China has adopted a new development paradigm in its 11th Five-Year Plan (covering 2006-11), emphasizing the building of a Harmonious Society (he xie she hui) with more balanced development across regions. The new development paradigm adopts a "scientific view of the development process" that emphasizes sustainable growth and "people-centered." The government has increased its commitment to pro-poor, pro-rural programs, with attention being turned toward relative poverty reduction and narrowing the rural-urban income divide. Informatization-defined as the transformation of an economy and society driven by information and communications technology (ICT)-is increasingly being explored as a way of helping poor people.

✦ Table of Contents

Contents
Foreword
1. Introduction
Notes
2. Development of China’s Rural Information Infrastructure
Fixed Line Telephony
Mobile Telephony
Radio and Television
Internet
Notes
3. Rural Informatization Initiatives and Organizational Models
Key Rural Informatization Actors and Initiatives
Organizational Models for Rural Informatization
Notes
4. Lessons from International Experiences
Government and Donor driven Initiatives and Sustainability
Private Sector Participation
The Appeal of the Franchise Model
Hybrid Organizational Models
5. Challenges for Rural Informatization in China
Lack of a Coherent Strategy
Weak Coordination across Ministries and Integration at the Provincial Level
Unsustainable Business Models and Over reliance on Government Financing
Lack of Demand Driven, Locally Relevant Information Resources
Low Levels of Public Awareness and Capacity Building
Weak Links to Domestic ICT Industry and Research and Development for Rural Applications
Lack of Systematic Learning and Impact Evaluation
6. Recommendations
Formulate a Comprehensive and Coherent Strategy
Support Innovative Business Models
Consolidate and Share Resources
Raise Public Awareness and Build Capacity
Develop Intermediary Institutions and Networks
Ensure Learning, Monitoring, and Evaluation
7. Conclusions
References
Appendixes
Appendix 1. Central Government Strategies and Initiatives for Rural Informatization
Notes
Appendix 2. Analysis of Eighteen Pilot Projects in China
Appendix 3. Impact Evaluation: Rationale, Definitions and Framework for Rural Informatization Pilots
Note
Appendix 4. A Framework for Evaluation of Eighteen Pilot Projects
Tables
Table 2.1. Information Infrastructure Coverage in China, 2007
Table 3.1. Rural Informatization Initiatives by Central Ministries and Agencies
Table 3.2. Rural Informatization Problems and Attempted Solutions
Table A.3.1. A Framework to Evaluate Project Impact
Table A.3.2. Indicators to Assess Project Impact
Figures
Figure 2.1. Ownership of Television in Urban and Rural Households, 1990–2006
Figure 2.2. Internet Penetration in Urban and Rural China, 2005–07
Figure 2.3. Personal Computer Ownership in Urban and Rural Households, 1999–2006
Figure 2.4. Place of Internet Access, 2007
Figure 3.1. Key Elements of Rural Informatization Pilot Initiatives
Figure 5.1. Population and Investment Segmentation in China
Figure A.3.1. Developing Performance and Impact Indicators
Boxes
Box 2.1. Central Government Strategies for Rural Informatization, 2001 to Present
Box 3.1. Government Model
Box 3.2. Telecommunications Provider Model
Box 3.3. Professional Association/Cooperative Model
Box 3.4. Franchise/Entrepreneurial Model
Box 3.5. Private Sector Model
Box 4.1. Public Programs of Access Centers in Chile
Box 4.2. E Choupal: An Evolving Infrastructure for Rural Transformation
Box 4.3. CDI: A Social Franchise Targeting Disadvantaged Urban Youth
Box 4.4. Gyandoot Program in India