Abstract:
Lacking consensus around a single definition, digital public infrastructure (DPI) has been understood as a set of secure and interoperable digital systems, built on open standards and designed to provide access to public and/or private services at a societal scale. Despite its growing adoption by governments and increasing attention in the practitioner-oriented literature, conceptual and theoretical debates on DPI remain at an early stage in academia. The concept is not yet consolidated, and important gaps persist regarding the assessment of its social, economic, and political impacts. This Discussion Paper seeks to contribute to this emerging field by: i) presenting the main concepts and constitutive elements of DPI; ii) systematizing current critiques and tensions surrounding its adoption, use, and governance; and iii) proposing research and policy agendas, based on a global mapping of DPI initiatives and the identification of strategic issues for Brazil and other countries in the Global South.
