The Digital Communities Platform

The U.S. has slipped from first to seventh place for the most effective use of technology in development and improving competitiveness, according to a recent World Economic Forum (WEF) study. For the first time, Denmark, Sweden and Singapore are lead 122 world economies surveyed.

WEF economic experts said Denmark, which ranked third in the 2006 survey, made progress since 2003 and benefited from its excellent regulatory environment. This was coupled with clear government leadership and vision in harnessing information and communication technology for growth.

The decline in America's ranking, however, can be ascribed to a relative deterioration in the political and regulatory framework of the U.S., according to WEF economists. Previously the No.1 innovator, the U.S. was driven by one of the world's best university system and a high degree of government and industry cooperation.

The study highlights what most probably agree with -- we could do much better in IT leadership and vision. Another thing that's not in question: Continued U.S. prosperity and growth is now intrinsically entwined with a digital economy.

When we talk about digital communities, quality of life and economic prosperity are core issues, so everything government does should relate to one or both of these.

This issue of Digital Communities features many articles that address economic competitiveness and/or raising the quality of life for community members.

Many challenges communities now face, such as homeland security and climate change, are ones that governments can't solve on their own. We recognize that partnerships between government and the private sector are essential.

Yet another partnership is just as important -- the one between governments and their citizens. Of course in a democracy, an implied partnership exists between government officials and the citizens who elect them.

The American Heritage Dictionary defines a partnership as "a relationship between individuals or groups that is characterized by mutual cooperation and responsibility, as for the achievement of a specified goal."

It'd be hard to argue that the mutual cooperation between citizens and government couldn't vastly improve -- especially in a country where less than half its citizens vote once every four years.

So, Government Technology's Digital Communities initiative -- of which this magazine is a part -- seeks to embrace three sectors of any physical community: local government, businesses and the citizens of those communities.

The digital world provides us with new tools and different ways to build partnerships. How governments and businesses harness these tools to involve citizens and customers is just starting to be earnestly explored.

The Digital Communities initiative serves as one platform through which three community sectors can share insights. We hope the articles in this issue and on our Web site reflect this orientation.