Technological Achievement and Human Development: A View from the United Nations Development Program

The primary purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between technological achievement and human development so that the human rights community may better understand the impact of the digital divide worldwide. Using data collected by a variety of international organizations and in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme, this research explores the creation, diffusion, and utilization of technology within the context of vast socioeconomic inequalities among nations. The paper opens with a brief introduction to the technology revolution, followed by a discussion of the digital divide. Data descriptions are presented in the next section, along with findings that show comparisons across technology achievement categories. The paper closes with suggestions for abridging the digital divide, and policy implications for the global community.