Economic Development in the Digital Age

“Nagy Hanna exposes the challenges of making technology an effective tool for development, while confronting vested interests that seek to sustain the status quo, both in client governments and internally within the Bank. At the heart of the book is a powerful commitment to learning and using technology to change lives for the better.” —Tim Kelly, Lead Digital Development Specialist, World Bank “As a thought leader, Hanna has accumulated decades of on-the-ground experience pioneering digital transformation projects in economies around the world, the subject of several of his important books. In this culminating and highly-readable volume, he pulls those experiences together, sets them in the context of his life-long career with the Bank, and raises vital questions for every aid agency as we move deeper into the 21st century.” —Nigel Cameron, President Emeritus, Center for Policy on Emerging Technologies In this book, Nagy K. Hanna offers a holistic framework that economists and policymakers can use to examine and drive digital transformation. The book offers detailed analyses into development policies, and organizational processes governing digital transformation learning and practice and highlights the reforms needed in countries and aid agencies to meet the challenges of the 21st century. The author offers insight to help reform major aid agencies within the economic development space. The resulting text reimagines the future of development economics. Nagy K. Hanna advises countries and aid agencies on development economics and digital transformation programs. For more than three decades, he held senior positions in operations and strategic functions at the World Bank. Hanna was the World Bank's first senior advisor focused on digital economy. He was Visiting Professor at University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa as well as Senior Fellow and Board Member at the Center for Policy on Emerging Technologies. He is Cofounder of People-Centered Internet, a global forum for inclusive digital transformation. Hanna has published extensively on digital leadership and national digital strategies.