This document summarizes a study exploring how the poor obtain, share, and use information and communication technologies (ICTs) in their daily lives. The study examines three Mexican communities - Las Margaritas, Santiago Nuyoo, and San Miguel de Allende - that have varying levels of broadband access. The researchers find that ICT access supported by training through "infomediaries" can enhance skills, social connections, and economic opportunities. Access eliminates gatekeepers of information and strengthens social capital, while lack of access concentrates knowledge and hinders business development.

1. > INFORMATIONAL LIVES OF THE POOR:
AN EXPLORATORY STUDY IN THREE MEXICAN COMMUNITIES
JUDITH MARISCAL & MARÍA ANGÉLICA MARTÍNEZ
September 26, 2013

2. > OBJETIVES
We seek to understand how the poor obtain, share and use ICT
on their everyday life –what we call the informational lives of
the poor.
>2
Using “before and after” studies we attempt to identify and
understand mechanisms through which ICT (and broadband,
in particular), may have an impact on poverty alleviation
>1

3. > METHODOLOGY
Does ICT access enhance the capabilities/assets of members
of low- income communities?
>2
How the adoption of broadband and other ICTs (or lack of)
changes the pattern of information seeking? Can these changes
be tied to development outcomes?
>1
RESEARCH QUESTIONS:

4. BROADBAND
ACCESS
NO
YES
Las Margaritas
Fixed
broadband
Mobile
broadband
Shared public access
Local Mobile Network
M-Banking
Access through Tablets
with 3G (personal,
ubiquitous and
continuous)
SANTIAGO NUYOÓ
SAN MIGUEL DE
ALLENDE:
-CRUZ DEL PALMAR
-LOS TORRES
-ESTANCIA DEL CANAL
> INTERVENTION

5. > LAS MARGARITAS
. Agency: TOA (NGO)
. No ICT Intervention
. Access to: Radio, TV, Community
shared telephone (sat)
> Community Center (library and
computer with no connectivity)
> Productive community activity:
Cooperative “Flor del Desierto”

6. > SANTIAGO NUYOÓ
. Agency: Telecomm (public entity)
. Intervention: Mobile local access and M-
Banking
. Access to: Radio, TV, lSat and Telecentre
(restricted)
> Telecomm provided satellite
connection with local mobile network
and financial services. NGO offered
financial and digital training.

7. > SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE
. DIRSI, introduced by NGO Jóvenes .
Adelante to the community.
. Intervention: Provision of 3G Tablets,
donated by Nextel.
. Access to: Radio, TV, and mobile broadband
> Tablets were given to 3
undergraduate students, who were
responsible of teaching their family
members. Searching techniques and
instruction strategies were provided
by DIRSI.

8. The prevailing idea is that those who can reap the most
benefits from ICTs are children and youth. High expectations
are placed on having kids learn how to use the Internet; it is
perceived as a key instrument for social mobility through
education.
>2
People have preconceptions about the potential benefits of
Internet use: regardless of its availability.>1
INITIAL OBSERVATIONS:
> RESULTS

9. “Learning by doing” and “Leaning by watching” enables
populations at the BOP to develop new skills, to engage in new
practices and to find useful applications for old and new
abilities and interests.
>2
The role of infomediaries allows permanent communication with
primary social ties, and results in contacts with institutions,
service providers and authorities.
>1
IMPACT ON HUMAN CAPITAL:
> RESULTS
In terms of skills, the impact of ICTs does not imply a direct, immediate link
between increased access and improved livelihoods; the positive impact on
human capital requires effective training process.
>

10. > IMPACT ON HUMAN CAPITAL
Santiago de Nuyoó:
Banamex Foundation>1
“Even I said I´d never learn… I could
not even imagine having a phone in
my hand… and I learned to dial and
text and now I say, that´s good. I can
also send payments, not many
because we don´t spend much but
there are some.” [Interview, Agustina,
47, housewife Nuyoo, 25/10/2012]
San Miguel de Allende:
Immediate Family>2
“I asked her what she wanted to find
out about and she mentioned several
things, including about breast cancer.
She said she was always been curious
to find out what is and what causes
it.” [Diary, Leontina, 23, grant holder,
San Miguel, 27/03/2012]
CRUCIAL ROLE OF INFOMEDIARIES

11. Family members as infomediaries: contributed in creating
conditions for the most vulnerable social groups to feel trust,
confidence, empowerment.
>1
IMPACT ON SOCIAL CAPITAL:
> RESULTS
“I though this was only for those who are young. ‘We are here in the kitchen and looking
for something to eat, but when they taught me, I realized that I can learn. I liked it
because I can see things I told my neighbor: -I can do things now. I was pleased to brag
about it.” [Interview, Omar´s mother, 43, San Miguel, 04/04/2013].
>

12. > RESULTS
Las Margaritas>1
Lack of ICT access generates negative Social
Capital as the community trusted a gatekeeper.
> One of the community members centralizes all
the public information and functions as a true
gatekeeper, filtering the news that deserves to be
disseminated and concentrating knowledge about
subsidies and social benefits.
San Miguel de Allende>2
Grant holder´s skills and ability to connect to the
Internet, in San Miguel, changed the communication
and power relations. Government officials approach
grant holders to access, process, generate and
convey key information.
“Now, [with the tablet] it will be easier for me
when my delegate calls me to help write e-mails or
whatever. [As] I´m the only one in the town who
knows how to use the internet, [that] is an
advantage” [Interview, Isela, 23, grant holder, San
Miguel, 24/03/2013]
IMPACT ON SOCIAL CAPITAL: ELIMINATION OF GATEKEEPERS
Adopting broadband may strengthen social capital and political participation>

13. One of the main benefits of access to ICTs is
obtaining information may create business
opportunities and reduce transactions costs.
> LAS MARGARITAS
Cooperative Flor del Desierto products are available
in websites created by NGO, but members of the
community cannot access the web page.
“We need to be taught to use the computer and the Internet; they say that we can talk outsiders.”
[Interview, Ángeles, 52, member of Flor del Desierto Cooperative, Las Margaritas, 07/09/2012].
> RESULTS
IMPACT ON FINANCIAL CAPITAL > Cooperative Flor del Desierto products

14. > RESULTS
IMPACT ON FINANCIAL CAPITAL
> SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE
This case highlighted the value of young family
members as infomediaries. Sharing common assets
created incentives for information queries that
could generate family income.
“When I visited the FONAES web page, I thought
that we could ask for a loan to open a kitchen that
I would open with my mother…” [Leontina,
Student].

15. > RESULTS
> SANTIAGO DE NUYOÓ
“So I said I´ll never learn ... not even
imagine having a phone in my hand ... And I
learned to write and send messages and I
thought it's good. but now I can also send
payments, not many because we don´t
spend a lot". [Housewife, 47, Santiago
Nuyoo, 25/10/2012]
IMPACT ON FINANCIAL CAPITAL

16. When ICT access is supported by effective training through
infomediaries, information and communication strategies
indeed change and capabilities are enhanced.
>2
> CONCLUSIONS
Without broadband access, communities face high transaction
cost and forego business opportunities
>1