Erik Bohlin

• Bohlin, E.; Cappelletti, F., 2024, "Editorial: Policy for 5G and 6G", Telecommunications Policy, March 48(2): 102721 - 102721.
  Abstract: The world of telecommunications has evolved exponentially in recent years. Looking at the full picture, the transmission of information via electronic means has progressed with such an impact on our societies that it has transformed them into network societies. Within just over the past few decades, telecommunication - like a few other technologies - has acted as an enabler of Schumpeter's ‘gale of creative destruction’, leading to a comprehensive industrial and economic revolution on a global scale, shaping the nature of our daily lives.

  Link(s) to publication:

  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2024.102721

• Bohlin, E.; Napoli, P. M.; Neogi, P.; Strover, S.; Wu, PhD, I. S., 2022, "50th Anniversary of TPRC—Research Conference on Communications, Information and Internet Policy: Looking Ahead to the Next 50 Years", Journal of Information Policy, December 12: 1 - 36.
  Abstract: This Special Section of the JIP celebrates the 50th anniversary of a gathering of communications professionals, regulators, and researchers first held in 1972, convened by the Office of Telecommunications Policy in The White House, and originally called the Telecommunications Policy Research Conference, subsequently renamed TPRC, and currently called TPRC—The Research Conference on Communications, Information and Internet Policy. The name changes reflect the ways in which the Conference has evolved and expanded. With 50 years of history of engaging policy makers with the best and most current research available on topics of importance to policy, legislation, and regulation behind it, the Editors believed that it would be a good time to look ahead to the next 50 years. Accordingly, they invited a group of experienced TPRC participants to reflect on the question, what will be the role of TPRC for the next 50 years? The authors were given no further direction and encouraged to reach out on whatever aspect best fit with their own experience and expertise.

  Link(s) to publication:

  http://dx.doi.org/10.5325/jinfopoli.12.2022.0000

• Bohlin, E., 2022, "Editorial: Digital societies and industrial transformations: ITS 23rd Biennial Conference", Telecommunications Policy, June 46(5): 102362 - 102362.
  Abstract: A selection of papers is presented here, being published after an extensive blind review process involving many reviewers for each paper. The papers reflect a broad take of the conference theme, with nine papers ranging from detailed techno-economic analysis to broad considerations of future mobile systems and their impact on sustainability.

  Link(s) to publication:

  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2022.102362

• Bauer, J. M.; Bohlin, E., 2022, "Regulation and innovation in 5G markets", Telecommunications Policy, May 46(4): 102260 - 102260.
  Abstract: This article examines the roles and consequences of different approaches to 5G market design for innovation. The analysis is grounded in a conceptual framework that explicitly considers the complementarities among networks, applications, and services. Good policy arrangements align the legal and regulatory framework with the technical and economic characteristics of the sector and the broader, social visions for new technologies. Because the future development of 5G technology and markets is open-ended, policy has to be developed with incomplete knowledge and under conditions of uncertainty. These circumstances call for adaptive forms of policy and a focus on the creation of guardrails for market players, backed up by regulatory powers to intervene more directly if necessary. In the technologically dynamic 5G system, multiple stable policy constellations are feasible, but they likely will result in divergent outcomes and performance characteristics. Monitoring of the experience with different national and international developments will facilitate global learning and the incremental improvement of policy frameworks.

  Link(s) to publication:

  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2021.102260

• Hasbi, M.; Bohlin, E., 2022, "Impact of broadband quality on median income and unemployment: Evidence from Sweden", Telematics and Informatics, January 66: 101732 - 101732.
  Abstract: Based on a unique and exhaustive database, including micro-level pooled cross-sectional data on 23 million observations over nine years, from 2009 to 2017, we assess whether broadband quality is correlated with income and unemployment reduction. Overall, the results do not tend to show any significant effect of download speed on either income or the unemployment rate. However, after distinguishing between educational attainment and city size, we obtained heterogeneous results. While we the results suggest a substitution effect between high-skilled workers and broadband in small and medium cities, we also show that broadband quality is positively correlated with unemployment reduction for low-skilled workers in small cities with broadband over 100 Mbit/s. However, the economic significance of the effect is rather low.

  Link(s) to publication:

  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tele.2021.101732

• Hanafizadeh, P.; Shafia, S.; Bohlin, E., 2021, "Exploring the Consequence of Social Media Usage on Firm Performance", Digital Business, October 1(2): 100013 - 100013.
  Abstract: This study aims to identify the consequence of social media usage on firm performance. To this end, it proposes a conceptual map that shows promising linkages between the maturity level realization of an organization in social media usage and its corresponding performance consequences. The conceptual map was developed by combining two theories: performance theory and theory of growth and maturity in social media, and then through systematic mapping. This map can predict what performance consequences will emerge in the organization for each stage of maturity in social media usage. According to this conceptual map, the organization is expected to benefit from accessing and sharing knowledge by realizing the first stage of maturity. The realization of the second stage is expected to establish more relationships with the customers, and the third stage will be followed by product and new processes development. By promoting the organization to the fourth stage, it is expected that communication with the organization's stakeholders emerges via social media. In the fifth stage, social media will help with value creation. Thus, managers and professionals can predict what performance consequences they will benefit from if each stage of maturity is realized.

  Link(s) to publication:

  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.digbus.2021.100013

• Feijóo, C.; Kwon, Y.; Bauer, J. M.; Bohlin, E.; Howell, B.; Jain, R.; Potgieter, P.; Vu, K.; Whalley, J.; Xia, J., et al., 2020, "Harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Increase Wellbeing for all: The case for a new technology diplomacy", Telecommunications Policy, July 44(6): 101988 - 101988.
  Abstract: The field of artificial intelligence (AI) is experiencing a period of intense progress due to the consolidation of several key technological enablers. AI is already deployed widely and has a high impact on work and daily life activities. The continuation of this process will likely contribute to deep economic and social changes. To realise the tremendous benefits of AI while mitigating undesirable effects will require enlightened responses by many stakeholders. Varying national institutional, economic, political, and cultural conditions will influence how AI will affect convenience, efficiency, personalisation, privacy protection, and surveillance of citizens. Many expect that the winners of the AI development race will dominate the coming decades economically and geopolitically, potentially exacerbating tensions between countries. Moreover, nations are under pressure to protect their citizens and their interests—and even their own political stability—in the face of possible malicious or biased uses of AI. On the one hand, these different stressors and emphases in AI development and deployment among nations risk a fragmentation between world regions that threatens technology evolution and collaboration. On the other hand, some level of differentiation will likely enrich the global AI ecosystem in ways that stimulate innovation and introduce competitive checks and balances through the decentralisation of AI development. International cooperation, typically orchestrated by intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations, private sector initiatives, and by academic researchers, has improved common welfare and avoided undesirable outcomes in other technology areas. Because AI will most likely have more fundamental effects on our lives than other recent technologies, stronger forms of cooperation that address broader policy and governance challenges in addition to regulatory and technological issues may be needed. At a time of great challenges among nations, international policy coordination remains a necessary instrument to tackle the ethical, cultural, economic, and political repercussions of AI. We propose to advance the emerging concept of technology diplomacy to facilitate the global alignment of AI policy and governance and create a vibrant AI innovation system. We argue that the prevention of malicious uses of AI and the enhancement of human welfare create strong common interests across jurisdictions that require sustained efforts to develop better, mutually beneficial approaches. We hope that new technology diplomacy will facilitate the dialogues necessary to help all interested parties develop a shared understanding and coordinate efforts to utilise AI for the benefit of humanity, a task whose difficulty should not be underestimated.

  Link(s) to publication:

  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2020.101988

• Vu, K.; Hanafizadeh, P.; Bohlin, E., 2020, "ICT as a Driver of Economic Growth: A survey of the literature and directions for future research", Telecommunications Policy, March 44(2): 101922 - 101922.
  Abstract: This paper conducts a comprehensive literature survey of the papers that examine the link between ICT and economic growth. Using a rigorous screening framework, we found 208 academic papers that were published from 1991 to the cutoff date of October 30, 2018. This survey provides a robust set of insights into the distribution, research strategies, and findings of the surveyed papers, taking into account their geographic focus and type of ICT-growth links. This study also reveals the key factors that predict the citation impact by paper. Among the directions for future research, this paper argues that the time has come for the research on the ICT-growth link to shift its main focus from evidencing its positive relationship to advancing the understanding on why and how emerging digital technologies directly or indirectly affect economic performance.

  Link(s) to publication:

  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2020.101922

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