Michael Coren examines the influence of internet connection speeds on economic production and the reasons why he believes "broadband will become the interstate highways of the 21st century."
Coren explores the findings reported in a new study, conducted jointly by Ericsson, Arthur D. Little and Chalmers University of Technology in 33 OECD countries, that sought to quantify the isolated impact of broadband speed.
The results of the study showed that doubling the broadband speed for an economy increases GDP by 0.3%. While that may not seem like much at first glance, it corresponds to more than one seventh of the average annual OECD growth rate in the last decade. Furthermore, the study reports that for every 10 percentage point increase in broadband penetration, GDP increases by 1 percent.
According to Coren, broadband will significantly change the ways in which a whole host of sectors do business, with an impact similar to that of the interstate highway system, providing "infrastructure that radically improves the exchange of valuable goods (or services and ideas) leading to explosive economic growth over time."
"As broadband becomes ubiquitous, and faster, everything from retail to government services may find ways to reinvent itself, especially in knowledge-based sectors where such speed and efficiency can enhance competitiveness."
FULL STORY: Want To Boost The Economy? Boost Internet Speeds
Report: Transportation Emissions Sully California's Environmental Reputation
There's good and bad news from an annual assessment on the Golden State's economy and environment. Gross domestic product per capita increases as emissions per capita decrease, with the major exception of emissions from transportation.
Mapping the Gap Between Broadband Access and Broadband Subscription
Not everyone that has access to high-quality Internet infrastructure is making use of it.
L.A.'s Next Superhighway
Could Los Angeles get a private company to spend $3 billion to $5 billion to connect every residence and business in the city to a fiber broadband network? City leaders seem to think so, and are planning to move forward with an RFP.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research