Strategic Option of ICT Driven Development Trajectory in Myanmar
Authors
- Khin SandarNational University of Singapore, Singapore.
- Chihiro WatanabeNational University of Singapore, Singapore, University of Jyvaskyla, Finland, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Austria.
Keywords
Myanmar, ICT driven development trajectory, institutional source, coevolutionary acclimatization, CHASM
Abstract
While Myanmar shared one of the richest lands in South Asia with affluent natural resources and qualified human resources, it has suffered long-lasting economic stagnation since 1962. However, conspicuous economic growth, after the take off-strategy 1997 (1999-2007), was highest among 10 member countries of ASEAN, China and India, and has demonstrated their potential ability to transform their constraints into a springboard for innovation. This reminds us of Information CommunicationTechnology (ICT) driven development trajectory demonstrated by the world ICT top leaders, Finland and Singapore. Both transformed their indigenous constraints into India, and has springboard for ICT advancement and prompts us a hypothetical view that such a trajectory could be a promising strategic option for Myanmar in awaking its latent competitive power. This paper presents an empirical analysis consideringICT driven developing trajectory in 146 countries. The analysis involved four major steps. Firstly, Myanmarâs possible development trajectory was estimated, based on innovation diffusion theory, by identifying its current position in the global ICT versus per capita income development trajectory. Secondly, Myanmarâs current position in the global ICT driven economic development trajectory was identified based on the theories of timing of emergence of functionality development and CHASM (deep trench compelling new ventures start-up). Thirdly, given Myanmarâs position in anticipating support from ICT advanced countries for its ICT advancement, effects of support were analyzed by decomposing the governing factors to ICT advancement. In addition, Myanmarâs institutional identity supportive to effective utilization of ICTsupport was analyzed. Fourthly, based on the foregoing analyses together with the analysis of the similarity and disparity between world ICT top leaders, Finland and Singapore, possible scenarios for Myanmarâs ICT driven development trajectories, growth-oriented or welfare and happiness seeking were compared.
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How to Cite
Khin Sandar, Chihiro Watanabe. Strategic Option of ICT Driven Development Trajectory in Myanmar.
J.Technol. Manag. Grow. Econ.. 2014, 05, 89-127
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