IBGC studies the potential of digital tech in Africa

Readers familiar with Fletcher may have stumbled upon the work of the Institute for Business in the Global Context (IBGC) at some point. It’s one of the busiest research centers at the school, and also houses the MIB program. IBGC researchers have been investigating various aspects of emerging digital economies for years now, including research into the “ease of doing digital business,” mobile payments, and cashless economies. Add to that the new African Leapfrog Index, a ranking created by Dean of Global Business Bhaskar Chakravorti and his team of researchers. The index measures the degree of success in digital technology adaptation in a range of African economies to highlight the most successful policy, regulatory, and entrepreneurial environments. Kenya and South Africa top the list, followed by Rwanda as an emerging digital powerhouse.

The IBGC now has its sights on a broader digital index with its Imagining a Digital Economy for All: IDEA 2030 initiative, a similar project with a global scale. You can view the African Leapfrog Index video and read the full report on the IBGC site.