Mastercard’s Digital Intelligence Index reveals technology adoption rate & the state of digital trust

By Pavithra R

Mastercard in partnership with The Fletcher School at Tufts University has unveiled the Digital Intelligence Index which defines the progress countries have made in advancing their digital economies, fostering trust and integrating connectivity into the lives of billions.

The global index defines global digital development, provides insight on key factors driving change and momentum, and reveals what this means for economies facing the challenges of a global pandemic and post-pandemic future. This years’ index looks at two components: Digital Evolution and Digital Trust.

“The pandemic may be the purest test of the world’s progress towards digitalization. We have a clearer view on how dynamic digital economies can contribute to economic resiliency during a time of unparalleled global turmoil and can be positioned for recovery and change,” said Bhaskar Chakravorti, Dean of Global Business at The Fletcher School.

According to the Digital Intelligence Index, dynamic digital economies such as the United States, South Korea, Taiwan, UAE and Germany has outperformed the OECD growth rate in Q2 2020 amidst the global lockdown. These countries feature high levels of available talent, active R&D collaboration between industry and academia, and a strong record of creating and bringing digital products into the mainstream.

Other key findings include:

• Factors such as the quality of access, effective use of digital technologies, accountable institutions, robust data governance policies and fostering trust are critical in determining digital competitiveness and sustainability.
• Young people in emerging economies are demonstrating high levels of digital engagement, a bright spot for governments attempting to expand digitalization in their economies.

“Never before has there been such an acute need to understand the factors that drive digitalization and digital trust. With that knowledge, businesses and governments can work together to help all 7.6 billion people around the world benefit from the vast opportunities a digitally advanced economy can bring. Whilst much remains uncertain today, it is clear that digital success will be a key building block in our collective recovery,” said Ajay Bhalla, president, Cyber & Intelligence, Mastercard.

The Digital Evolution scorecard measures 160 indicators in 90 economies across four key pillars: institutional environment, demand conditions, supply conditions, and the capacity for innovation and change. These segment into four categories:

• Stand Out economies – Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, United States, Taiwan, Germany, Estonia, UAE, Israel, Czech Republic, Malaysia, Lithuania and Qatar are both highly digitally advanced and exhibit high momentum.
• Stall Out economies – such as Sweden, U.K., Netherlands, Japan, and Canada are mature digital economies with a high state of digital adoption despite slowing digital momentum. They tend to trade off speed for sustainability and focuses on expanding digital inclusion and building robust institutions.
• Break Out economies – such as China, India, Indonesia, Poland and Russia are evolving rapidly attracting investors.
• Watch Out economies – such as Uganda, Colombia, Peru, Nigeria,
•  Pakistan, and Sri Lanka have a number of infrastructure gaps. Despite this, young people are showing enthusiasm for a digital future with the escalated use of social media and mobile payments.

The Digital Trust scorecard measures 198 indicators in 42 of the index’s economies across four key pillars: behaviour, attitudes, environment, and experience.

• Economies such as Colombia, Brazil and Mexico are beginning to build momentum on behaviour scores, demonstrating substantial engagement on social media and other new technologies.
• Economies such as China, Indonesia and Vietnam have increasingly favourable attitudes about their digital future, buoyed by rapidly expanding digital adoption and opportunity.
• Economies with more mature approaches to digitalization and related policymaking such as the Netherlands, Sweden & Denmark shares measures that strengthen the trust environment, such as security, privacy, and accountability policies. 
• Economies such as the United States, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Singapore provide citizens with a seamless experience, delivering the holy grail of advanced infrastructure, broad access and unparalleled interaction.