Virtual online currencies and digital work now provide real income opportunities to poor and unskilled workers in developing countries, suggests a latest study by the World Bank.
A new study by the World Bank’s infoDev program suggests that the Virtual Economy or Online Enterprises are offering real income opportunities to the poor and unskilled workers in developing nations like China and India. Titled, “Knowledge Map of the Virtual Economy,” the latest World Bank report highlights that more than 100,000 people earn a living by performing such digital jobs as playing online games on behalf of wealthy clients/players (who are too busy to tend to their characters themselves), categorizing products in online shops and moderating contents posted to social media sites etc.
The study forecasts emerging virtual economy to continue creating newer employment opportunities for such people in these nations, riding high on very low entry barriers, which, in turn, are fueling new layer of entrepreneurial opportunities. The gaming-for-hire services market size was estimated to be worth $3 billion in 2009, according to the estimates by the said study. And it is expected to grow exponentially in the days to come fueled by the rapid growth in mass-market smartphones and increasing penetration of mobile phones.
“…there are real earning opportunities in the virtual economy that will become accessible as mobile technology develops. This could significantly boost local economies and support further development of digital infrastructure in regions such as Africa and Southeast Asia,” said Tim Kelly, infoDev’s Lead ICT Policy Specialist. However, Dr. Vili Lehdonvirta, the main author of the study, cautions, “Entrepreneurs should focus on digital micro-work that benefits society.” He expects digital works such as transcribing books, translating documents, and improving search-engine results to create more job opportunities in the future in these economies.
(image courtesy: vel-tech.org)
Amy
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