Growth drivers: ICT and Inclusive innovations

Abstract

The paper explores the contribution of innovations to Indian growth. Inclusive innovations aid catch-up and close productivity gaps. An analytical framework helps to characterize policies that contribute to such innovations. Recent telecommunication and mobile banking policies are assessed against these. While policy can directly encourage it, if innovation depends on market size above a threshold, policies that expand size can be more effective in inducing innovation. While policy successfully expanded mobile use, increasing revenue has recently taken precedence over expanding the market. Poor provision of the relevant infrastructure continues to exclude sections of the population and limit spillovers. Regulatory measures that limited market size were partly responsible for India's lack of success in mobile banking, compared to Pakistan.