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The global economy is experiencing important technological shifts. This is driven by the rise of digital technologies which are transforming all aspects of production, exchange, and consumption. As digital transformation is emerging, it is important to understand the impacts that these technologies are having on the global economy including evolving forms of capitalism, the geographies of production and consumption, the emergence of new business models and the changing nature of work.  

In this context, economies of the global south face important challenges. Digital transformation provides an opportunity to achieve economic and technological catching-up and use technologies could be leveraged to reduce socio-economic inequality. But evidence suggests that global technological shifts are also contributing to widening the technological divide and are driving new types of inequality. 

The unit aims to provide:

• An overview of the major theories and processes related to the digitalisation in the global economy
• An opportunity for students to critically assess the uneven impacts of digital transformation at a global level.
• An understanding of the implications of digital transformations on inequality with an emphasis on economies of the global south.
• An opportunity for students to develop a range of competencies in transferable areas, including research, analysis, teamwork and both written and verbal forms of communication

Part 1: Foundations of digital transformation - This would focus on broader conceptual models of digitalization, the digital economy and global production. Examining the key theories and global implications

Potential Topics:  

●    Key concepts of digital, knowledge, services and data; innovation; key economic concepts

●    Overview of key technologies and infrastructures

●    Big-tech, digital capitalism, and financialization of the global economy

●    The global political economy of technological leadership

Part 2: Key processes and models - This section would examine in more detail some of the transformations occurring in different areas of the economy, critically thinking about the impacts with an emphasis on the global south.

Potential Topics:

●    Platform models, the gig economy and their implications for inequality

●    The nexus of AI, algorithms and data and justice

●    Payments, finance, and the future of money

●    Digital industrialization and impacts on work and enterprises

●    Consumers and the digital economy

Part 3: Governance of digital transformation - This section would provide a more focused discussion on the development and policy implications of these shifts.

Potential Topics:

●    Perspective on digital technologies and gender, race and ethnicity

●    Implications of national regulation, policy, and strategies in the global south

●    Critical perspectives on digital entrepreneurship strategies in a globalised economy.

●    Circular economies and the digital 

The principal teaching approach will be as 8 two-hour sessions on key topics.

• This will be made up of lecture content to introduce key topics (see course content)
• Sessions will be supported by practice cases or readings
• Sessions will be supported by pre-readings and pre-recordings

The seminars will be supported by four two-hour tutorials. These will focus on practical activities with a focus on guiding the students towards the two assignments:

1 - Handling diverse perspectives and conceptualisations on technology change

2 - Interpreting the global development impacts of emerging digital technologies: the case of AI

3 - Inequality and technologies – Poster session (see assignment)

4 - Policy debate – global vs national rules for the digital economy

A full canvas site with additional readings and forums used for further discussion 

• Evaluate the patterns of digital transformation in terms of political economy and impacts on the global south
• Place processes of digital transformation within the wider context of global economic change and development

• Apply analytical frameworks and conceptual perspectives to understand the impact of key technologies and business models shaping the global digital economy
• Apply conceptual perspectives on digital technologies to critically analyse change and continuities in the global economy

• Evaluate existing digital policy and governance plans in terms of their implications for global inequality
• Present ideas and findings around digital technologies to peers both verbally and in a variety of written formats

• Present academic perspectives within a policy-orientated format
• Work constructively with others to analyse emerging technologies and communicate informed views, taking account of different perspectives within the team
• Critically reflect on a diverse set of academic and policy discussions

• Written assignment (2,500 words)
• Poster group assessment (500 words per group)

• Formative feedback and guidance within tutorials
• Formative feedback on plan in “guidance session” and optional drop-in session
• Summative feedback through written feedback following assignment

Azmeh, S., Foster, C.G. & Echavarri, J. (2020) The International Trade Regime and the Quest for Free Digital Trade. International Studies Review, 22(3), pp. 671–692.

Bukht, R. & Heeks, R. (2017) Defining, Conceptualising and Measuring the Digital Economy, Development Informatics Working Paper, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.

Foster, C., Graham, M., Mann, L., et al. (2018) Digital Control in Value Chains: Challenges of Connectivity for East African Firms. Economic Geography, 94(1), pp. 68–86.

Gurumurthy, A., Bharthur, D., Chami, N., et al. (2019) Platform Planet: Development in the Intelligence Economy, IT for Change, Delhi, India.

Jordan, T. (2019) The Digital Economy. Polity Press, Cambridge, MA.

Kwet, M. (2019) Digital Colonialism: US Empire and the New Imperialism in the Global South. Race & Class, 60, 4, pp3-26

Srnicek, N. (2016) Platform Capitalism. Polity Press, Cambridge, UK.

Rahman, K.S. & Thelen, K. (2019) The Rise of the Platform Business Model and the Transformation of Twenty-First-Century Capitalism. Politics & Society, 47(2), pp. 177–204.

UNCTAD (2019) Digital Economy Report 2019: Value Creation and Capture: Implications for Developing Countries, UNCTAD, Geneva, Switzerland.

Yu, H. & Cui, L. (2019) China’s E-Commerce: Empowering Rural Women? The China Quarterly, 238, pp. 418–437.