Whether developed, transition, or developing countries, system transformations are often needed in order to improve the functioning and effectiveness of social protection programs. Information and communication technology (ICT) is increasingly being seen as a means to this end. Not only can ICT support the regular business processes of labor and welfare institutions but, at the same time, it can re-engineer them, thus, bringing about highly effective process-focused and service-oriented social protection administrations.
This section provides links to a several papers and presentations on new thinking and best practices in the design and implementation of ICT in light of the opportunities and challenges in the provision of social protection and with respect to social risk management. These documents cover, among others, the following issues: Different ICT approaches to social protection; The experience of the World Bank, client countries, and private contractors with ICT-related projects; The costs and benefits of ICT with respect to the provision of social protection; ICT design and implementation issues with respect to the provision of social protection; and Integrated versus non-integrated ICT provision.
Related Employment Policy Primer Papers  Boosting Productivity Via Innovation and Adoption of New Technologies: Any Role for Labor Market Institutions? (384KB PDF)
Social Protection Discussion Paper No. 0406
Stefano Scarpetta and Thierry Tressel
March 2004
This paper presents empirical evidence on the determinants of industry-level multifactor productivity growth. We focus on "traditional factors", including the process of technological catch up, human capital and R&D as well as institutional factors affecting labor adjustment costs. The analysis is based on harmonized data for 17 manufacturing industries in 18 industrialized economies over the past two decades. The disaggregated analysis reveals that the process of technological convergence takes place mainly in low-tech industries while, in high-tech industries, country leaders tend to pull ahead of the others. The link between R&D activity and productivity also depends on technological characteristics of the industries: while there is no evidence of R&D boosting productivity in low-tech industries, the effect is strong in high-tech industries, but the technology leaders tend to enjoy higher returns on R&D expenditure compared with followers. There is also evidence in the data that high labor adjustment costs (proxied by the strictness of employment protection legislation) can have a strong negative impact on productivity. In particular, when institutional settings do not allow wages or internal training to offset high hiring and firing costs, then the latter reduce incentives for innovation and adoption of new technologies, and lead to lower productivity performance. Albeit drawn from the experience of industrialized countries, this latter result may have relevant implications for many developing economies characterized by low relative wage flexibility and high labor adjustment costs.
Social Protection at your Fingertips: Using Information and Communication Technologies in Social Protection (220KB PDF)
Social Protection Discussion Paper No. 0213
Knut Leipold
March 2001
This draft primer examines the potential of using information and communication technology (ICT) in the area of social protection. Key sections include facts and figures on ICT spending in general; the Bank's experience with ICT-related projects; innovative approaches; costs and benefits of ICT in social protection; key factors and issues in the design and implementation of ICT-related projects. More importantly, the primer provides some recommendations and guidelines for the use of ICT in the provision of social protection programs.
Costs and Benefits of Information Techology in Social Protection (112KB PDF)
Knut Leipold
August 2000
This paper examines the costs and benefits of using information technology in social protection based on case studies, and provides recommendations for achieving/improving cost-effectiveness.
ICT and Income Support Programs (13KB PDF)
Knut Leipold
May 2000
This note examines the benefits of using ICT for the provision of income support programs in low- and middle-income countries. Key benefits discussed include increased administrative capacity, improved service quality, and efficiency gains.
Investigation of the Design and Implementation of ICT in the Social Security Area (76KB PDF)
Knut Leipold
October 1999
Based on the experiences of the Bank and a major private ICT supplier, this paper examines key design and implementation issues in the provision of ICT for the purposes of social security administration and delivery.
Other Related Resources
Information and Communication Technology in Social Protection: Facts, Trends, and Implications for the World Bank (146KB PDF)
Knut Leipold
February 2001
This presentation provides an overview of ICT in social protection systems, followed by a discussion of its impacts, costs and benefits, and design and implementation issues. Implications for the Bank are also discussed. Developing Best Practices in Information Technology: How IT Can Improve Our Social Protection Work (270KB PDF)
Knut Leipold
February 2000
This presentation provides an overview of the general trends in IT spending, the opportunities and challenges in the use of IT in social protection systems, the experience of IT projects in social protection, alternative approaches to the design and implementation of IT projects, and the potential of using IT to improve the provision of social protection. Top |
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