Insight 3: Economic Stimulus Packages & the ICT Sector growth. In many cases, these long-term plans are directly related to the ICT sector or ICT applications (e.g. “smart” applications in urban systems, transport systems, electricity distribu-tion, Governments in OECD countries are setting up economic stimulus packages to address the economic crisis. These affect the ICT sector in direct and indirect ways. The immediate aim of these packages is to restore the health of the banking sector and stimulate demand in the short-term, i.e. re-financing banks, injecting cash into the economy and protecting exist-ing etc.), potentially providing an anti-cyclical stimulus to the sector. The question is how should current ICT policies be maintained or rethought during the economic crisis and what is the right balance between continuity and proven ICT policies on the one hand and more rapid ad hoc crisis measures on the other hand. jobs. These measures may help counteract negative demand pressures on the ICT sector and help sustain the diffusion of ICTs. However, most governments also plan to foster growth through investments with repercussions on the supply-side, helping to restore favorable condi-tions Source: OECD (2009), “The Impact of the Crisis on ICTs and their Role in the Recovery”, available from http://www.oecd.org. for innovation and long-term economic Confronting the Crisis: ICT Stimulus Plans for Economic Growth 23