Economic Development in the Digital Age

Reviews / Votes

"This book, written by prolific author and development intellectual, had my attention from the first page to the last. He has the uncanny ability to see into institutions deeply and to observe digital transformation processes intensely, and to express these insights in ways that enable the reader to see almost as deeply. In this book, Nagy Hanna looks into his own institution, the World Bank and offers analysis of its digital transformation journey, side by side with his own personal journey. He introduces us to brief country narratives from the digital transformation journeys of India, Sri Lanka and Kenya, and a few of the emerging smart city stories: Rio, Singapore, China. If an author were to attempt combining a love story of development practice and a scholarly text on digital transformation, this would be it."-Luci Abrahams,Director, LINK Centre, University of the Witwatersrand "Digital transformation, as Hanna amply demonstrates, is not just access to digital technology. It is a learning process by the whole society. The stories of Hanna's successes in various countries provide ample insights into digital transformation and its possibilities for development."-Shinji Asanuma, Visiting Professor, School of International and Public Policy, Hitotsubashi University "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 "Nagy Hanna shares a lifetime of experience with the deployment of digital technologies in developing countries. Many lessons can be found in this impressive journey."-Vint Cerf, Internet pioneer and Hall of Fame member "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 co-author, and fellow digital transformation advocate in and after a career in the World Bank, I heartily endorse Hanna's conclusions. I second his emphasis on "leadership, shared vision, enabling policies and institutions, upgraded human resources, and national consensus and culture". Without leadership it is very difficult to establish holistic digital development policies and get them accepted across siloed sectoral entities, whether within countries or aid agencies."-Peter T. Knight, Member, Board of Directors, Fernand Braudel Institute of World Economics "What a life! This hugely engaging account of Hanna's career is motivated by his passionate commitment to development and belief in the potential of digital technologies to contribute to inclusive and sustainable development. His acute insights enable him to identify the many risks accompanying digital transformation and the barriers - institutional, political, cultural - to successful outcomes. He calls for holistic approaches to digital development. He emphasizes the crucial need for client buy-in and trust. He insists upon putting multi-stakeholder learning at the core of digital strategies."-Robin Mansell, Professor, London School of Economics and Political Science "Nagy Hanna has dedicated his career to digital development. He was a pioneer. He created the Bank's digital development community of practice - which mobilized expertise and funding to what was then an innovative new field. Hanna mentored and coached World Bank leadership and staff on technology for development."-Samia Melhem, Lead Digital Policy Specialist, World Bank "Drawing from his vast experience and pioneering role in the field, Nagy Hanna has woven together a remarkable story of his life and career. The book offers valuable lessons for policy makers and practitioners of digital technology. What Hanna conveys most convincingly is his early insight into the central role of digital technology in development. He illustrates this through examples from his firsthand experience. I had the good fortune to get to know him as a colleague at the World Bank where I witnessed his steadfast pursuit of his pioneering ideas in partnership with the country, and winning over critics. He practiced what he advocates in this book: nurturing local ownership and institutions, co-creating with stakeholders, prioritizing inclusion, and taking a holistic view. This book is a must-read for development professionals."-Praful Patel, Former Regional Vice President (Asia), World Bank "This book reflects the learning journey of a thought leader and pioneer in harnessing digital technology for development. Through detailed case studies, it ascribes top priority to digital development interventions in diverse country and regional contexts. Hanna's journey combines visionary thinking about digital transformation with hands-on lessons for translating country-driven visions into development programs and projects. He challenges development practitioners, policy makers, aid agencies, and developing countries to re-invent their practices to be fit for the digital age."-Sam Pitroda, former advisor to prime ministers of India "The authorhad a distinguished career at the world's most visible international organization. He championed digital transformation and in virtue of his experience, he brings the reader to witness the fascinating evolution of development work across several decades. He describes the tumultuous change brought by technology at a crossroad of geopolitical, cultural and societal changes. In an exercise of retrospect (the author is a passionate art lover), the book reminds us of one of those Flemish paintings where the painter is in the picture, all devoted to provide the proportionate perspective to the external world."-Carlo Rossotto, Principal Investment Officer and Global Head, Upstream Telecom Media and Technology Infrastructure, International Finance Corporation "Hanna tells an important story of passion and perseverance, as well as doubts and setbacks, with the prize being digital transformation for nations and aid agencies. This memoir is a timely reminder ofwhat it takes to digitally develop for the benefit of all."-Jim Spohrer, Senior executive "Nagy Hanna's pioneering study of information technology content of World Bank lending was a wakeup call for Bank leadership. His advocacy for Bank funding the study of India's opportunity for software export led to the exponential growth of India's software sector. I had the privilege of being a participant observer of Hanna's journey as a development economist to a passionate champion of digital transformation. This book shares the trials and triumphs of a developmental practitioner taking up this challenge. The development community needs more of his kind."-Anil Srivastava, President, Open Health Systems Lab and Founding Executive Director, NASSCOM "Nagy Hanna is one of the foremost digital development pioneers and framers of our time. He had the uncanny ability to see the path ahead, the intellectual curiosity and rigor to refine and apply these insights across a uniquely diverse set of programs and country settings, and the ability to inspire others with his insights about the possibilities of digital transformation to change lives and societies for the better. Hanna's reflections bear testimony of the courage and perseverance required to challenge the status quo, the lifelong passion for learning, and the enduring legacy of having embedded digital innovation into our understanding of development. For multilateral organizations, his memoir should serve as a wake-up call to re-imagine their mission and ways of doing business in a time of poly-crisis."-Klaus Tilmes, Former Director, Trade and Competitiveness Global Practice, World Bank