Technology continues to play an important role in communication, entertainment and improving productivity. Convergence is leading to the merging of computers, cell-phones, hi-fi, TV and other electronic devices, as well as the blending of cable, wireless and satellite communication. The rise of outsourcing services in countries such as India and the Philippines is underpinned by improvements in global telecommunications infrastructure.

In the sections below, we list some of the key statistics and developments for the two years prior to December 2007. To see how this fits into our global outlook, we refer you to our World overview. For more recent information, we suggest you refer to the MBendi Blog: Signposts to 2020.

The ILO estimates that the US is the most productive economy labour-wise at US$ 63,885 of value added per worker. Norway has the highest labour productivity in value added per hour worked at US$ 37.99 compared to US$ 35.63 in the USA and US$ 35.08 in France.

Between 1987 and 1995, growth in GDP per hour worked in the old EU was 2.2% per year, versus 1.1% in USA. Between 1995 and 2006, GDP per hour in the old EU increased by 1.4% versus 2.3% in the USA. With Europeans working fewer hours than Americans, living standards stayed the same till 1995, but American living standards improved more than EU standards thereafter. In 2006, the USA recorded the lowest increase in a decade, while Asian and eastern European productivity improved by between 4% and 10% per year.

A McKinsey study concluded France is losing share in global export market twice as fast as the USA and three times as fast as Germany. France buys 11% of (component) imports from low-cost countries, versus UK (15%), Germany (24%) and USA (35%).

The Philippines earned US$ 3.6 billion from outsourcing in 2006, up 50% on 2005. The government forecasts US$ 10 billion per annum from outsourcing by 2010.

In September 2006, French trade unions lambasted Axa's plans to open a call centre in Morocco.

By November 2006, the number of cell-phone users worldwide estimated at 1.8 billion. At the beginning of 2007, there were 2.5 billion cellphone users out of world population of 6.6 billion. India adds 7 million new cell phone users per month.

By end of 2006, Chinese 3G technology was ready for deployment.

By November 2006, the number of Internet users was just under 1 billion. By 2007, 1.1 billion people had used the Internet, up from 50 million people in 1997. India has 40 million Internet users.

India has 10 PCs per 1,000 inhabitants versus China's 40 PCs per 1,000. Media Partners Asia forecast Chinese Internet users increasing from 51.9 million to 1256 million in 2011.

By February 2007, stock related spam was 15% of spam.

Plastic Logic announced plans to make plastic semiconductors which could cut cost of electronic circuitry by 90% .

The Business Software Alliance estimates that more than one third of software in use worldwide is pirated and that losses from illegal software rose 15% to nearly US$ 40 billion in 2006.

Footnote: If you are aware of any highlights we have missed, please contact us with details.