Technology and Public Policy

China's Tech Landscape: A Primer

Since China joined the World Trade Organisation in 2001, its economy has grown eight times over. From being the world’s second largest recipient of FDI in the 1990s, the country has been the world’s largest exporter for the last decade. An initial strategy of imitation has now shifted to innovation, with the nation at the forefront of development technologies such as 5G and in areas of Artificial Intelligence. Its digital economy is today worth 30 per cent of its GDP. This primer looks at the state of technology in the nation and the opportunities and challenges this presents. 

Explainer

Economic infrastructure for the internet era

Infrastructure has always been a priority for promoting productivity and growth. But debate is still focused on that of the last economic era, rather than the cloud, software and data infrastructure that will underwrite the new one. Policymakers must grasp the scale of this new world, understand how it differs from the old, and harness the opportunities ahead.

Briefing

What next for online harms and regulation?

Commentary

Technology and Innovation in Global Education Systems

The primary goal of any education system should be to support learners. EdTech should improve outcomes and the quality of experience for students and teachers. A version of this briefing was originally prepared by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change and the Tmrw Institute to inform a round-table discussion with ministers of education at the Global Education and Skills Forum (GESF) 2019.

Transforming Government for the 21st Century

Technological progress has led to radical change throughout the modern world, with organisations built on internet foundations raising citizens’ expectations of what all services should deliver. Yet governments designed for the offline world are failing to keep up. It’s time to bring them up to speed.

Challenges and Opportunities for Future Health Policy

Tony Blair and Chris Yiu argue that the outlook for technology and health policy is one of tremendous possibility in an article  originally published in the Future Healthcare Journal.

A New Deal for Big Tech: Next-Generation Regulation Fit for the Internet Age

A new approach to regulating technology companies will deliver stronger accountability and more freedom to innovate. Bureaucratic regulation designed for legacy industries is a poor fit for the pace and scale of the Internet; a fresh start is the best way to align private incentives with the public interest.

Report

Tony Blair's Foreword to A New Deal for Big Tech

Commentary

Public Artificial Intelligence: A Crash Course for Politicians and Policy Professionals

Policymakers should take steps to embrace the promise of AI while preparing for its impact and complications. Doing so would radically transform public-service delivery, allowing governments to better meet citizens’ needs while putting data at the heart of decision-making.

Briefing

What Is Artificial Intelligence?

Explainer

A New Approach to Digital Identity

Secure digital identities could ensure proper access to work and public services, and help protect privacy.

Commentary

Response to DCMS-GDS Call for Evidence on Digital Identity

Read our response to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the Government Digital Service's call for evidence on digital identity here.

Briefing

Technology for the Many: A Public Policy Platform for a Better, Fairer Future

A world infused with new technologies demands courageous, imaginative policy solutions that will both harness technology’s tremendous potential for good and mitigate the displacement effects of rapid change. This is one of the greatest policy challenges of our generation, and one of the biggest gaps in the prospectus across the political spectrum.

Report

Tony Blair Foreword: Technology for the Many

Brexit or no Brexit, we need a revolution in public policy to equip Britain for the revolution in technology

Commentary

Adapting to the 4IR: Africa’s development in the age of automation

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is upending the nature of work as we know it. Policymakers are struggling to grapple with this future in the West, but for African countries—and developing countries generally—the outlook appears even more bleak.

Digital Government Performance and Activity

There are interesting examples from around the world of governments engaging with new technologies to improve how they operate. There are also a range of indexes of digital maturity on which countries can be ranked.

Explainer

Technology Policy at Web Summit 2019

The relationship between technology and politics is an increasingly important theme at tech conferences. Here are some of our reflections on this year’s conversations in Lisbon.

Briefing

The Industrial Revolution, Politics and Public Policy

Paper

GovTech 2019: 5 reasons to be cheerful

Commentary