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Leveraging digital public infrastructures for the common good
Authored by David Eaves, Mariana Mazzucato, and Giulia Pagliarini
20 November 2024
Leveraging digital public infrastructures for the common good to promote inclusive and sustainable economic development in Brazil. UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP) Working Paper Series: IIPP WP 2024-19.
Authors:
- David Eaves | Co-Deputy Director and Associate Professor in Digital Government | UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP)
- Mariana Mazzucato | Founding Director and Professor in the Economics of Innovation and Public Value | UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP)
- Giulia Pagliarini | Policy Fellow | UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP)
Abstract:
The Government of Brazil is implementing an agenda of economic transformation that aims to bring economic, social and environmental priorities into alignment. Realising its full potential will require a parallel agenda of state transformation, to empower the public service with the policies, tools, institutions and capabilities needed to successfully direct growth and shape markets that work for the people of Brazil and for the planet. Thoughtful design and governance of Digital Public Infrastructures (DPI) are a critical part of this agenda. DPI — shared digital systems that are secure, interoperable, based on open standards and promote access to services for everyone — can be designed according to “common good” principles and oriented around policy priorities. This working paper explores the challenges and opportunities of leveraging DPI to support Brazil’s economic transformation, building on Brazil’s history of digital transformation initiatives. It looks at what this approach could mean for Brazil’s Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) as an illustrative case study.
This working paper was used to inform a virtual workshop held remotely on September 20th, 2024, with representatives of 29 organizations. It has been updated to reflect the insights shared by participants.
This working paper was written as part of a project funded by the Open Society Foundations, led by Professor Mariana Mazzucato (PI) with Professor David Eaves as Co-PI of the Digital Public Infrastructure workstream, as part of a partnership between the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP) and Brazil’s Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services (MGI).
Reference:
This working paper can be referenced as follows: Eaves, D., Mazzucato, M., and Pagliarini, G. (2024). Leveraging digital public infrastructures for the common good to promote inclusive and sustainable economic development in Brazil. UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, Working Paper Series (IIPP WP 2024-19). Available at: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/public-purpose/wp2024-19