that investing in certain types of ICT infrastructure offers superior job creation benefi ts because it can create a network effect. This network effect results in an additional employment growth multiplier (the “network multiplier”), which arises from the new consumer and business spending, functionality and downstream employment generated by the original investment in ICT. These arise because digital infra-structures As businesses benefi t from broadband in greater profi tability and competitiveness, they expand, boosting local employment, local spending and investment in facilities and equipment. These secondary economic effects take longer to material-ize, but may have greater impact in the long run, as productivity, competitiveness and services improve. There are important secondary returns to invest-ments in broadband infrastructure for improving act as platforms serving as the foundation skills, service delivery and effi ciency. for a host of innovative new technologies and serv-ices. Estimates for the UK show that investments Indeed, there are likely to be substantial employ-ment of GBP 15 billion (US$ 10.4 billion) in network infrastructures over one year could create or retain upwards of one million jobs (Table 2). benefi ts to investments in ICT infrastructure. The London School of Economics and Information Technology and Innovation Foundation estimate Table 2: UK Jobs Created or Retained by Investments in Network Infrastructures ICT Investment Amount Invested General Jobs Small Business Jobs Broadband networks GBP 5 billion 280,500 94,000 Integrated Transport Systems (ITS) GBP 5 billion 188,500 120,000 Smart power grid GBP 5 billion 231,000 146,000 Total GBP 15 billion 700,000 360,000 Source: LSE and the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation. 34 Confronting the Crisis: ICT Stimulus Plans for Economic Growth