The Fletcher School at Tufts University and Mastercard released on July 11th the Digital Evolution Index 2017. Displaying research findings on the development of digital economies and connectivity integration in worldwide countries, the Index places Israel, Hong Kong, Estonia, Japan, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom as `stand out` markets.
Mastercard, a major credit card and payment processor, leveraged their experience with digital economies all over the world with The Fletcher School, the oldest graduate-exclusive school of international affairs in America, to study digital evolution in 60 countries over the course of 8 years, resulting in the 2017 Digital Evolution Index.
“We all know technology can do more to improve economies and make our lives better, but growth is only achievable if everyone has confidence in the developing ecosystem,” said Mastercard’s president of global enterprise risk and security, Ajay Bhalla in a press release. “In our pursuit of a truly connected world, trust and security are critical to successful digital development.”
The Index measures the infrastructure and access for the internet, consumer’s demand for digital technologies, the institutional environment surrounding government policies and resources, and investments towards digital startups and research and development to rank the countries surveyed. Based on this information, the market is then placed into one of four categories:
- Stand Out markets like Israel, Hong Kong, Estonia, Japan, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom demonstrate high levels of innovation, innovation, and growth.
- Stall Out markets in Australia, South Korea, Western Europe, the United States, and the Nordic regions, have strong histories of growth with slowing innovation.
- Break Out markets such as Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Brazil, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, India, Russia, Kenya, and China have high momentum but a low level of actual advancement.
- Watch Out markets in Greece, Egypt, Peru, South Africa, and Pakistan have slow growth and low levels of digital advancement.
