An index needs a
framework for converting indicators to a unitary value. Most indices also group
related indicators into categories that can be useful for analyzing countries
relative strengths and weaknesses.
The Digital
Opportunity Index is a composite index that measures “digital opportunity” or
the possibility for the citizens of a particular country to benefit from access
to information that is “universal, ubiquitous, equitable and affordable” (WSIS
Tunis Commitment, para 10). It uses a range of indicators, including data on
service prices and the take-up of latest ICTs, to assess countries’ performance
and prospects to measure progress in building the Information Society in 180
economies worldwide. The DOI can be used to enrich policy and inform
policymakers of the latest trends and impact analysis of ICT policies to
identify successful policies and replicate them elsewhere.
The DOI follows the
same methodology as the
Human Development Index of the
United Nations Development Program. The indicators are normalized relative to desirable values
or goalposts.
For example, a
goalpost of 100 was established for mobile cellular subscribers per 100
inhabitants. Assuming a country had 60 mobile cellular subscribers per 100
inhabitants, then the index value would be 0.6 (60/100). Indicators are weighted
within their groups and then the groups are averaged to arrive at the DAI value.
This is the same
methodology used by the United Nations Development Program’s Human Development
Index (HDI), arguably the benchmark for composite indices, as it is one
of the longest-standing and most referenced of all. |