Can Technology End Poverty?

Can Technology End Poverty?

Derek Aylward

Kentaro Toyama

Many development experts promote information and communication technology (ICT) as a way to relieve global poverty. They should pay more attention to the human beings who use it.

Nicholas Negroponte

You don’t have to take my word for it: laptops work.
(Tues., Nov. 9)

Dean Karlan

We should carefully evaluate technological interventions and only apply what works.
(Wed., Nov. 10)

Archon Fung

We can turn the socioeconomic biases of technology to our advantage.
(Wed., Nov. 10)

Evgeny Morozov

Successfully enacting new ICT strategies requires a philosophical shift toward local, small-scale problems.
(Mon., Nov. 15)

Ignacio Mas

There is no silver bullet for development, but certain ICT projects have shown unique promise. (Tues., Nov. 16)

Nathan Eagle

Mobile phones are not just for talking; they are also tools for work and compensation.
(Tues., Nov. 16)

Jenny C. Aker

We should focus on ICT’s impact on well-being in general.
(Wed., Nov. 17)

Christine Zhenwei Qiang

Demanding that technology transform human behavior is too much to ask.
(Thur., Nov. 18)

Kentaro Toyama responds

For the world’s poorest countries, human capital, not technology, should come first.
(Fri., Nov. 19)