The Reform of the Telecommunications Sector in Brazil: Implications for Economic Development

Abstract

This paper uses the example of the telecommunications sector in Brazil to argue that the faster IT diffusion associated with privatization of telecommunications will have positive economic impacts on all firms only if a regulatory framework is developed. It also analyses the regulatory challenges that Brazil will face in a new competitive environment. The paper concludes by identifying the main beneficiaries of the telecommunications reform and the difficulties involved in reaching some of its goals.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Renata Lèbre La Rovere

Renata Lèbre La Rovere is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Economics of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro since 1993. Prof. La Rovere obtained her Ph.D degree at the Université Paris 7, France, and was a visiting scholar at the MIS Department of the University of Arizona during 1991 and 1992. Between September 1995 and November 1996 she was at Rostock University, Germany, to conduct research on the subject of IT diffusion in small and medium-sized enterprises. Her research interests include information technologies, the telecommunications industry and IT diffusion in small and medium-sized enterprises.