Brookings: Topics - Information Technology

Foreign Policy

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:23:32 GMT

The U.S. and the international community face great challenges in the 21st century—globalization offers more freedom and prosperity, but also new threats to our security. The Foreign Policy Studies scholars and research help policymakers and the public address these crucial issues.

Governance Studies

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:55:43 GMT

Governance Studies brings together people interested in improving the performance of our national government and bettering the economic security, social welfare, and opportunity available to all Americans.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski on Improving Broadband and Mobile Communications

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

September 21, 2009, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Recognizing the need to expand the U.S. broadband network to ensure America’s infrastructure and economic development, Congress tasked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with developing a national broadband plan by early 2010. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski delivered remarks at Brookings on the national broadband plan and other communications issues.

FCC Chairman Proposes New Net Neutrality Plans

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski announced his plan to expand “net neutrality” rules for Internet providers. The chairman advocated an anti-discrimination rule that would prevent Internet providers from blocking or slowing the utilization of competing services, and a transparency rule that would require providers disclose how they manage traffic, writes Darrell West.

What Consumers Want From Mobile Communications

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Congress tasked the FCC with developing a national broadband policy by February 17, 2010 to boost our nation’s communications infrastructure and long-term economic development. Darrell West explores in a new study what consumers want from new mobile communications in the United States, Spain, United Kingdom, and Spain and how these results demonstrate the virtue of innovation and open networks for communications policy.

Blogs as Public Forums for Agency Policymaking

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Blogs represent opportunities for individuals to express views, comment on the opinions of others and build a new online community. The U.S. government understands blogs’ dynamism and, as a result, agencies are seeking to increase their online presence by developing their own blogs. Julianne Mahler and Priscilla Regan examine the ways governmental and non-governmental blogs are used to link citizens and government officials.

Digital Health and Participatory Medicine

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

As Americans debate about health care reform and how it will affect the doctor-patient relationship, Darrell West discusses how new technologies can bring in a new era of "participatory medicine." The advent of health information technology can generate efficiency, reduce costs, and improve outcomes.

The Federal Statistical System in the 21st Century: The Role of the Census Bureau

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

At a hearing of the Joint Economic Committee, Andrew Reamer indicated that, to become a 21s century statistical agency, the Census Bureau needed data programs that fully reflect today’s knowledge- and services-based economy; enable private and public organizations to make more informed, effective resource allocation decisions; and readily incorporate advances in information technology.

The Scouting Report: Technology Innovation for Open Government

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:30:00 GMT

Event Information:

June 17, 2009, 12:30 PM to 01:30

Brookings expert Darrell West and Politico Senior Editor David Mark discussed ways the government can use the Internet and new technologies to provide better, faster, more transparent and accountable service to its people in the June 17 edition of the Scouting Report.

Innovation in Government: How to Make the Public Sector Faster, Smarter and More Connected

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

June 17, 2009, 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM

On June 17, Brookings hosted an event on how new technology can make the public sector perform faster and smarter. Brookings Vice President and Director of Governance Studies Darrell West released a new study, “Comparing Technology Innovation in the Private and Public Sectors.”

Comparing Technology Innovation in the Private and Public Sectors

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Technology can be a tool for making government better and democracy stronger. However, the public sector has continued to fall behind the private sector in technology innovation, writes Darrell West. Evaluating the web sites of leading U.S. corporations with state and national governments, West offers five reasons why the private sector has outpaced government in effective innovation, and ways the public sector could improve.

Health 2.0: Adopting Health Information Technology in the United States

Mon, 04 May 2009 12:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

May 04, 2009, 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM

With more than $19 billion planned in new federal expenditures on health information technology, the Obama administration is taking serious steps towards modernizing the U.S. health care system to reduce health care costs and medical errors. Brookings hosted a discussion on how to bring the benefits of information technology to health care in the United States.

The New Digital Press: How to Create a Brighter Future for the News Industry

Mon, 04 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

There is no question we are witnessing a fundamental economic and technological transformation of journalism, writes Darrell West. However, while traditional business models are dying, new ones are still being developed. In this multi-faceted, new-media universe, West says we need an information strategy for the news industry that expands on digital media's strengths while encouraging in-depth coverage.

To Make Clean Energy Cheaper, U.S. Needs Bold Research Push

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Mark Muro and Teryn Norris urge policy-makers to move innovation and commercialization to the fore of America’s outdated energy policy. They advocate creating regional energy partnerships—or e-DIIs—to accelerate the development of reasonably priced alternative energy technologies and bring them to the marketplace.

Digital Medicine : Health Care in the Internet Era

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The promise of "e-health" remains largely unfulfilled. In Digital Medicine, Darrell West and Edward Miller investigate the factors limiting the ability of digital technology to remake health care in the United States and around the world in order to understand health care information innovation in a variety of settings.

Health Care Reform and the Economy

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:29:44 GMT

Henry Aaron says health care reform is a critical step forward for the nation and needs to be strategically crafted and implemented. The economy, he adds, could be a factor affecting President Obama’s plans for tackling the issue.

Losing Our Technology Advantage

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

E-government expert Darrell West encourages the United States to invest more in its technology infrastructure. Once on the cutting edge of technological innovation and access, the United States now lags behind other industrialized nations. West recommends tax credits for private-sector research and development, greater support for higher education, and adult training programs that help workers transition to a 21st century economy.

New Paradigms in Energy Research

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

February 09, 2009, 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM

With new national leadership committed to investing in clean energy technology, now is the time to explore new research paradigms in America. At this event, the Blueprint for American Prosperity released a new report that examines the role of expanded energy research in reinvigorating America’s metropolitan economies, tackling security challenges and responding to global climate change.

Energy Discovery-Innovation Institutes: A Step toward America's Energy Sustainability

Sun, 01 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

America’s economic revitalization and future energy security compel the transformation of U.S. energy policy. To push innovation to the center of national reform, this Blueprint for American Prosperity report argues that the federal government should establish a national network of regionally-based energy discovery-innovation institutes (e-DIIs) to serve as the hubs of a decentralized, commercialization-oriented research network.

Communications Embargo on Cuba: Let Them Surf, Not Float

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

While continuing to face dire economic challenges, Cuba has the potential to become a regional economic powerhouse. Kevin Casas-Zamora argues that one hurdle in particular keeps the Cuban economy from advancing: Cuba significantly lags behind the rest of Latin America and the Caribbean when it comes to the use information and communication technologies.

The Pitfalls of Overreaching In Health Reform

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Although fundamental reform of U.S. health care is clearly necessary, there are still daunting obstacle: the sheer size of the health sector, the multiplicity of powerful groups with conflicting interests, and the factionalized U.S. political system. But change is in the air and chances for health care reform seem more likely than ever. However, Henry Aaron argues not to overreach and risk failure; instead he says the focus should be on essential and achievable steps that will sustain long-term change.

The Limits of Abstract Patents in an Intangible Economy

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

January 14, 2009, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Abstract ideas are not patentable, but what are abstract ideas – and how can judges draw a line around them? At a conference, co-sponsored by the Brookings Institution, the Computer & Communications Industry Association and Duke University School of Law, experts looked at the problem of abstract patents from both economic and legal perspectives. How well do abstract patents work? What problems do they create? Can we do better than the standard in Bilski?

Advancing the Adoption of Health Information Technology to Improve Quality and Value in Health Care

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

November 24, 2008, 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Mark McClellan, Carolyn Clancy and other distinguished experts addressed current opportunities to accelerate the adoption and integration of health IT, with an emphasis on how it can lead to higher quality care at lower costs.

State and Federal Electronic Government in the United States, 2008

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Darrell West assesses the nature of American state and federal electronic government in 2008 by examining whether e-government effectively capitalizes on the interactive features available on the Internet to improve service delivery and public outreach.

Improving Technology Utilization in Electronic Government around the World, 2008

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Few developments have had broader consequences for the public sector than the introduction of the Internet and digital technology. In this Brookings report, Darrell West assesses the current conditions of electronic government around the world and offers practical suggestions for improving the delivery of information and services over the Internet.

Data and Decisions: Parcel Level Information Changing the Way Business Gets Done

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The accelerated development of electronic land information systems in our cities creates opportunities for important improvements in land management and community development. However, “decision support tools” are needed to assure that new data are effectively acted on. These tools transform raw data into accessible information displays designed to inform specific actions by private, nonprofit and government actors, and may range from simple web tables to more complex analytic processes. This paper reviews early experiences in developing such tools in five cities (as part of a Brookings Urban Markets Initiative pilot project) and concludes that they have great promise. The choice of tools will depend on local market conditions, but in all areas, they can help in: (1) assessing trends and need for intervention; (2) deciding on the appropriate interventions for individual properties; and (3) program monitoring and coordination. Ideas are offered as to how local leaders can create an environment conducive to capitalizing on the potential of these tools and avoiding risks that could hinder their effective use.

America’s Innovation Challenge: Innovation Policy and Regional Industry Clusters

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 08:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

April 22, 2008, 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM

The authors of a new report, “Boosting Productivity, Innovation, and Growth through a National Innovation Foundation" held a forum at the National Press Club in Washington DC to respond to America's slipping leadership in commercial innovation and urge the federal government to establish a National Innovation Foundation (NIF)—a nimble, lean and collaborative entity devoted to supporting firms and other organizations in their innovative activities.

Boosting Productivity, Innovation, and Growth through a National Innovation Foundation

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

To respond to America’s slipping leadership in commercial innovation the federal government should establish a National Innovation Foundation (NIF)—a nimble, lean, and collaborative entity devoted to supporting firms and other organizations in their innovative activities. By realigning and augmenting the nation’s diffuse present efforts the new entity would help create better jobs in America, not just for highly educated “knowledge workers” but for high school graduates in manufacturing and “low-tech services.”

Clusters and Competitiveness: A New Federal Role for Stimulating Regional Economies

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Regional industry clusters—geographic concentrations of interconnected firms and supporting organizations—represent a potent source of productivity at a moment of national vulnerability to global economic competition. For that reason, Karen Mills, Elisabeth Reynolds and Andrew Reamer say the federal government should establish an industry clusters program to stimulate the collaborative interactions of firms and supporting organizations in regional economies to produce more commercial innovation and higherwage employment.

Using the Media to Promote Adolescent Well-Being

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Parents are worried that teens are drowning in messages about sex, smoking, drinking, consumer goods and a host of other behaviors and products that threaten their well-being. This brief advocates using creative media to provide youth with positive messages that counteract the negative damaging messages to which they are exposed.

Internet Development in China: Its Impact on Politics and Society

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 10:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

December 04, 2007, 10:00 AM to 12:00 pm

The John L. Thornton China Center at Brookings hosted a discussion on the development of the Internet in China and its impact on politics and society. A distinguished panel of experts addressed trends in Internet usage, government policy, civil society development and the implications for good governance in China.

Telecom Time Warp

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Robert Crandall and Hal Singer argue that, eventually, either the FCC or the courts will realize that regulating competitive telecommunications networks for the benefit of select content providers is not in the interest of American consumers.

Earmarked Airwaves?

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Robert Hahn and Hal Singer (06/27/07)

The Effects of Broadband Deployment on Output and Employment: A Cross-sectional Analysis of U.S. Data

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Robert Crandall, William Lehr and Robert Litan discuss how high-speed internet access has developed rapidly in the last decade and is increasingly viewed as essential infrastructure for our global information economy.

Leong Defeats Tsang, in the Blogosphere: A Glimpse of the Emergence of New Media in Hong Kong Politics

Fri, 13 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Rikkie L. K. Yeung says that whether in America or Hong Kong, the more competitive the election, the higher incentive the candidates have to explore the digital media.

Economists' Statement on Network Neutrality Policy

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Network Neutrality Policy

The Myth of Network Neutrality and What We Should Do About It

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Robert Litan and Robert Hahn examine the Internet industry today, especially in light of the current "network neutrality" debate, and conclude that further regulation of the Internet is not warranted at this point in time.

Competition and Antitrust Law Can Protect The Internet

Tue, 03 Oct 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Robert Hahn and Robert Litan (10/03/2006)

The Supreme Court's Patent Trilogy: An Analysis

Tue, 30 May 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Web Opinion by Ben Klemens

Catching the Web in a Net of Neutrality

Tue, 02 May 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Article by Robert Litan, Washington Post (5/2/06)

The Wired and Inspired City

Wed, 14 Dec 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

December 14, 2005, 12:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Software and Law: Is Regulation Fostering or Inhibiting Innovation?

Wed, 07 Dec 2005 15:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

December 07, 2005, 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Math You Can't Use : Patents, Copyright, and Software

Thu, 01 Dec 2005 00:00:00 GMT

This lively and innovative book is about computer code and the legal controls and restrictions on those who write it. Drawing on a host of examples, Ben Klemens describes and analyzes the intellectual property issues involved in the development of co

China's Expanding Use of the Internet and Its Impact on Chinese Society

Thu, 17 Nov 2005 10:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

November 17, 2005, 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM

The Impact of the New Media: A Live, Inter@ctive Discussion & Webcast

Tue, 22 Mar 2005 10:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

March 22, 2005, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

At this Brookings briefing, members of the "new" and "old" media weighed in on the ever-evolving role of the press and the future of journalism. The discussion focused on new mediums and practices in journalism and what impact these have had—and will continue to have—on the role and credibility of the traditional American media.

Broadband Policy and the Future of American Information Technology

Wed, 28 Apr 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Testimony of Charles H. Ferguson (04/28/04)

Understanding Economic Growth : A Macro-Level, Industry-Level, and Firm-Level Perspective

Mon, 01 Mar 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Based on The Sources of Economic Growth in OECD Countries (2003), this book is intended for an undergraduate audience. It focuses on the growth patterns of OECD countries during the 1990s. Facts, figures, and analysis are presented at the macr

OECD Science, Technology, and Industry : Scoreboard 2003

Mon, 01 Mar 2004 00:00:00 GMT

How far have OECD countries advanced in their move to a knowledge-based economy? Which new technologies are growing in importance? How far have information and communications technologies spread?

Government Policy toward Open Source Software

Thu, 18 Dec 2003 00:00:00 GMT

This book addresses a host of issues raised by the rapid growth of open source software, including government subsidies for research and development, government procurement policy, and patent and copyright policy. Contributors offer diverse perspecti

Information Exchange between the Public and Private Sector for Homeland Security

Thu, 19 Jun 2003 00:00:00 GMT

Testimony by James B. Steinberg before the Technology and Privacy Advisory Committee (6/19/03)

Balancing Civil Liberties and National Security in the Post-9/11 Era: The Challenge of Information Sharing

Thu, 05 Jun 2003 00:00:00 GMT

Event Information:

June 05, 2003 at 12:00 AM

Broadband Communications

Thu, 01 May 2003 00:00:00 GMT

Paper by Robert W. Crandall for The Handbook of Telecommunications Economics, Vol. II (5/03)

Microsoft Looking Forward

Tue, 12 Nov 2002 11:30:00 GMT

Event Information:

November 12, 2002, 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM

The United States Broadband Problem: Analysis and Policy Recommendations

Fri, 31 May 2002 00:00:00 GMT

Working Paper by Charles Ferguson, Nonresident Senior Fellow, the Brookings Institution, May 31, 2002

The New Economy : Beyond the Hype

Fri, 01 Feb 2002 00:00:00 GMT

In 2000 commentators everywhere were hailing the boom in some western economies as the dawn of a new economy. In 2001, with a slowdown in the US economy, dot.coms folding, and information and communications technology firms feeling the pinch globally

Smart Transportation

Sat, 01 Dec 2001 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings Review article by Robert Puentes (Winter 2001)

The Copyright Paradox: Fighting Content Piracy in the Digital Era

Sat, 01 Dec 2001 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings Review article by Jonathan Band (Winter 2001)

Improving Our Nation's Schools Through Computers & Connectivity

Sat, 01 Dec 2001 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings Review article by Craig Cunningham (Winter 2001)

Whom to Protect And How: The Public, the Government, and the Internet Revolution

Sat, 01 Dec 2001 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings Review article by Robert J. Blendon, John M. Benson, Mollyann Brodie, Drew E. Altman, Marcus D. Rosenbaum, Rebecca Flournoy, and Minah Kim (Winter 2001)

The Economy and the Internet: What Lies Ahead?

Sat, 01 Dec 2001 00:00:00 GMT

Conference Report #4, by Robert E. Litan and Alice M. Rivlin (December 2000)

Music on the Internet: A New World Is Waiting

Sat, 01 Dec 2001 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings Review article by Cary Sherman (Winter 2001)

Technology and America's Good Times: An overview

Sat, 01 Dec 2001 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings Review article by Robert E. Litan (Winter 2001)

The Digital Divide: Bridging the Divide Naturally

Sat, 01 Dec 2001 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings Review article by Robert W. Crandall (Winter 2001)

Beyond the Dot.coms : The Economic Promise of the Internet

Sat, 03 Nov 2001 00:00:00 GMT

In Beyond the Dot.coms, two of the nations most respected economists articulate the anticipated economic impact of the Internet over the next five years.

The Economic Payoff from the Internet Revolution

Fri, 03 Aug 2001 00:00:00 GMT

This volume contains detailed analyses of how the Internet revolution could bring economic benefitsprimarily improved productivity and higher qualityin the eight sectors of the U.S. economy that collectively account for over 70 percent of the Gross

A New Economy? : The Changing Role of Innovation and Information Technology in Growth

Thu, 01 Mar 2001 00:00:00 GMT

This study shows that economic success requires not some silver bullet, but a range of complementary factors that support the innovation-intensive growth exemplified by new information and communication technologies such as the Internet and Internet

Managing High-Tech Growth in King County

Thu, 01 Jun 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings Review article by Ron Sims (Summer 2000)

The Future of the Global Economy : Towards a Long Boom?

Mon, 01 May 2000 00:00:00 GMT

This book reviews the forces driving economic and social change in today's world. It assesses the likelihood of a long boom materializing in the first decades of the 21st century and explores the strategic policies essential for making it happen.

OECD Communications Outlook 1999

Sat, 01 Apr 2000 00:00:00 GMT

This book presents the most recent comparable data on the performance of the communications sector in OECD countries and on their policy frameworks. It examines the major changes and future trends in the telecommunications industry and explores devel

The Solow Productivity Paradox: What Do Computers Do to Productivity?

Mon, 01 Mar 1999 00:00:00 GMT

Paper by Jack Triplett, Visiting Fellow, The Brookings Institution, May 7, 1998

The European Union Privacy Directive

Thu, 07 May 1998 00:00:00 GMT

Testimony before the House Committee on International Affairs on the European Union Privacy Directive, May 7, 1998

A Communications Cornucopia : Markle Foundation Essays on Information Policy

Sat, 02 May 1998 00:00:00 GMT

Rapid progress in information technologies has produced an ever-broadening array of choices in information products. This progress has placed enormous strain on the governmental institutions that use and regulate information technology. The essays in

Deciphering the Cryptography Debate

Tue, 01 Jul 1997 00:00:00 GMT

Policy Brief #21 by Kenneth Flamm (July 1997)

Elections in Cyberspace : Toward a New Era in American Politics

Sat, 01 Mar 1997 00:00:00 GMT

The proliferation of candidate Web pages and other politically oriented Internet sites during the 1996 campaign foreshadows the potential impact that new communications and information technologies will have on the American political process in the f

The Economics of Scholarly Publications and the Information Superhighway

Wed, 01 May 1996 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings Discussion Papers in Domestic Economics