ABSTRACT
The advent of the integrated-services digital network concept underlines the potential of computers and informatics. Information technology is changing the world where developing countries struggle for economic survival and growth. This change is significant because computers can profoundly affect the central social and economic functions of an interdependent world economy. A national computer and informatics policy should recognize that a subject that is currently of secondary or even tertiary importance may soon be highly significant and therefore requires monitoring, preparation, and substantial investment. In order to start the process of computer and informatics policy formulation, national planners and decision makers must make a preliminary assessment of the present state of computer development and then decide on a feasible and desirable future for computerization. This chapter presents a simple aggregate model to help policymakers to determine a set of broad indicators and parameters for computer-related activities in a country.
