estimate of agricultural subsidies was $252 billion, 41 percent of which was to EU producers (figure 8b). Many rich countries have pledged to open their markets to exports from developing countries, and the share of goods (excluding arms) admitted duty free by OECD economies has been rising. However, arcane rules of origin and phytosanitary standards keep many countries from qualifying for duty-free access. And uncertainty over market access may inhibit development of export industries (figure 8c). Growing economies, better debt management, and debt relief for the poorest countries have allowed developing countries to substantially reduce their debt burdens. Despite the financial crisis and a 2.3 percent contraction in the global economy in 2009, the debt service to exports ratio in low- and middle-income economies reached a new low of 8.8 percent in 2011. In Europe and Central Asia, where the debt service to exports ratio rose to 26 percent in 2009, higher export earnings have helped return the average to its 2007 level of 17.8 percent (figure 8d). Telecommunications is an essential tool for development, and new technologies are creating new opportunities everywhere. The growth of fixedline phone systems has peaked in high-income economies and will never reach the same level of use in developing countries. In high-income economies mobile phone subscriptions have now passed 1 per person, and upper middle-income economies are not far behind (figure 8e). Mobile phones are one of several ways of accessing the Internet. In 2000 Internet use was spreading rapidly in high-income economies but was barely under way in developing country regions. Now developing countries are beginning to catch up. Since 2000 Internet use per person in developing economies has grown 28 percent a year. Like telephones, Internet use is strongly correlated with income. The low-income economies of South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa lag behind, but even there Internet access is spreading rapidly (figure 8f).
Economy
States and markets
Debt service burdens continue to fall
8d
Total debt service (% of exports of goods, services, and income) 50 Latin America & Caribbean
40 South Asia
Europe & Central Asia
30
20 East Asia & Pacific
10
Sub-Saharan Africa 0
Middle East & North Africa 1990
1995
2000
2005
2011
Source: World Development Indicators database.
Telecommunications on the move
8e
Mobile phone subscriptions (per 100 people) 125 High income 100 Upper middle income
75
50
Lower middle income
25 Low income 0
1990
1995
2000
2005
2011
Source: International Telecommunications Union and World Development Indicators database.
More people connecting to the Internet
8f
Internet users (per 100 people) 80 High income
60
Europe & Central Asia 40 Latin America & Caribbean East Asia & Pacific 20
0
Sub-Saharan Africa
Middle East & North Africa
South Asia 2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2011
Source: International Telecommunications Union and World Development Indicators database.
Global links
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World Development Indicators 2013 17