Monday, December 22, 2025

New Book "Demystifying the Economics of Technology: Perspectives on Development with Reflections from India" by Amit Shovon Ray

Demystifying the Economics of Technology: Perspectives on Development with Reflections from India by Amit Shovon Ray, Routledge, 2026, Hardback, ISBN 9781041207023.

Description: This book examines technology through economic perspectives, covering theoretical foundations, market structures, and innovation processes. It analyzes classical and contemporary economic thought on technological change, patent systems, and diffusion patterns. The study explores technology's role in development, particularly in developing countries, examines public-funded research and knowledge transfer mechanisms and includes:
Detailed study of patent economics including intellectual property rights, optimal patent design, and system limitations
Analysis of technological diffusion patterns, adoption strategies, and network externalities in competitive markets
Investigation of technology's role in economic development with focus on developing countries and capability building
Assessment of public-funded research economics and university-industry knowledge transfer mechanisms
Case study of India's technological trajectory and emergence in the global knowledge economy
The book concludes with India's technological trajectory and emergence in the global economy, providing insights into policy implications and future directions. This title has been co-published with Social Science Press. Taylor & Francis does not sell or distribute the print edition in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Bhutan.

Table of Contents
Technology Through the Lens of Economics
Perspectives on Technology by Economic Thinkers
The Economics of Technology Generation
The Economics of Patents
The Economics of Technological Diffusion
Technology and Development
Public Funded Research
Reflections on India's Technological Trajectory and Its Emergence in the World Economy

Author's Biography: Amit Shovon Ray is Professor of Economics at the Centre for International Trade & Development at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India. He is a Development Economist, specializing in global economic issues like technology, IPR, trade and health. He was educated at Presidency College (Kolkata) and at Oxford University from where he received his D.Phil in Economics in 1988. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health (UK) in 2006. He has published several articles in reputed international journals and a few monographs. He served as Director, Centre for Development Studies (Trivandrum) and has been a consultant to The World Bank (Washington DC) and India's Planning Commission.

Vol. 5, No. 12: Showcasing our year

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December 2025 —  Vol. 5, No. 12
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SHOWCASING OUR YEAR

As we reach the end of the year, December is not only a time to wrap things up but also to reflect on what we've achieved and what lies ahead. For IFLA, 2025 has been a year of momentum—building on the foundations laid in 2024 and accelerating the implementation of our 2024–2029 Strategy, with a strong focus on outcomes and impact.


Happy reading! 📊

IFLA Highlights

IFLA President Leslie Weir and Secretary General Sharon Memis joined the meeting of IFLA's Regional Offices in Doha, Qatar (highlighted below), as well as visiting Riyadh to hear about the exciting work taking place in Saudi libraries.


Leslie has also shared updates from our most recent Governing Board meeting and more in her December message to members and volunteers. In addition, you can watch a recording from our recent Townhall meetings with Leslie and Sharon.


Finally, Leslie and Sharon, as well as members of the Governing Board and IFLA staff collaborated to send a message of thanks to all IFLA volunteers on International Volunteer Day on 6 December.

How might the IFLA Trends shape Strategy success?

We have taken a further step forward in our work to promote the update of the Trend Report. In addition to a workshop with the Professional and Regional Councils, we published the results of a survey on how our members and volunteers felt that the Trends would affect progress towards IFLA's Strategy goals.

Just out from IFLA/De Gruyter: Libraries Empowering Society Through Digital Literacy

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Be an Early Bird and save! WLIC 2026 registration now open

Registration for the 90th edition of the World Library and Information Congress is now open, with great member and group discounts available.


The website is live and packed with opportunity. Stay tuned as we announce speakers, sessions, and much more over the upcoming months. We look forward to seeing you in Busan, South Korea from 10 to 13 August 2026!

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Teaching international librarianship – A look at current practice

A key focus of IFLA100 will be reflection on the past, present and future of international librarianship. To inform and inspire this work, we looked at how international librarianship is already understood within library and information science education.

FAIFE Joins Free Access to Information Roundtable in Zagreb, Croatia

The IFLA Advisory Committee on Freedom of Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (FAIFE) delegates joined the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Croatian Library Association's Committee for Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression. This year's event, held at Zagreb City Library, brought together Croatian librarians and international guests.

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Are you exploring new ways to collaborate with your local government and/or UNESCO office on digital inclusion?

Reaffirming the principles of a library-powered people-centred internet – WSIS+20 High-Level Meeting

United Nations Member States have endorsed by consensus the outcome document of the WSIS+20 High-Level Meeting. This both maintains a focus in general on ensuring that the internet serves development goals, and specifically highlights the role of libraries.

Why Reform Matters: Takeaways from the European Commission Report on Distance Education and Research

The results from a new study into the experience of libraries working with copyright and licensing to support remote access are out!


The report, which also covers other research, education and heritage institutions, underlines the shortcomings of the situation today. Read more in the summary on the website of Knowledge Rights 21, which is administered by IFLA.

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Planning for Partnerships

A meeting of IFLA's Regional Offices, kindly hosted by our Office for the Middle East and North Africa at Qatar National Libraries, offered an opportunity to explore in more depth how to work through partnerships to achieve our goals.

IFLA Welcomes University of Cape Town Libraries as PAC Hub

Hosted in centres of expertise around the world, IFLA's Preservation and Conservation (PAC) Centres are focal points of knowledge on regional and international issues in cultural heritage conservation and preservation. They are a key resource for IFLA's wider work on cultural heritage.

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The 2026 IFLA PressReader International Marketing Award

Win €3500 to attend IFLA WLIC 2026 in Busan, South Korea!


The IFLA Management and Marketing Section, in partnership with PressReader, presents the 2026 International Library Marketing Award, honouring outstanding library marketing projects, promoting marketing in libraries, and offering a platform to share expertise worldwide.


Applications will be accepted through 27 February 2026.

Last Call – IFLA Green Library Award 2026

Do you have an innovative, sustainable library project?


Apply now for the 2026 IFLA Green Library Award—administered by the IFLA Section on Environment, Sustainability, and Libraries (ENSULIB) and sponsored by De Gruyter Brill Publishing and Library Juice Academy


Deadline: 30 January 2026.

Call for candidates: Join the IFLA ISBD

The IFLA International Standard Bibliographic Description (ISBD) Review Group is inviting expressions of interest for new members through IFLA's co-opting process.


The group oversees the revision, management, and promotion of the International Standard Bibliographic Description (ISBD) and serves as a hub for ISBD-related issues within IFLA's metadata standards ecosystem.


Submit your expression of interest by 16 January 2026.

Call for short papers on sparking the love of reading

The IFLA Libraries for Children and Young Adults (C&YA) Section invites short papers on innovative ways to inspire a love of reading among children and teens in

up to 1000 words, with accompanying photos and captions.


Submit your article, photos, and author details by 12 January 2026.

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New members, welcome! 🌟

And before we turn the page on 2025… 💌

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SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT

Want to get featured here? 👇 Don't forget to @IFLA and use the #IFLA hashtag!