ABSTRACT
Economic development is characterized by a constant restructuring of economic activities. In most countries today, the service sector accounts for the largest share of gross domestic product; it is not surprising, therefore, that increased attention is being given to services. In the international context, this awareness has led to rapidly spreading discussions about trade and foreign direct investment in services and the international policy framework most appropriate for these transactions. Data services are among the most dynamic components of international trade and foreign direct investment. Technical progress, changes in the economic sector, factors influencing the international specialization in data services, and the impact of obstacles combine to determine the growth of trade and foreign direct investment in data services. The desire to have "rules of the road" for trade in data services is probably at the origin of the current international debate on services. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
