Biometrics

More from the Series

WORKING PAPERS
Digital Governance in Developing Countries: Beneficiary Experience and Perceptions of System Reform in Rajasthan, India - Working Paper 489
July 10, 2018
India is at the forefront of the use of digital technology to transform the way in which citizens interact with states. This paper provides a picture of the perceived impact of digitization reforms in Rajasthan, based on a survey of beneficiaries of several benefit programs. We find that, on balance...
Blog Post
Do Fish Need Bicycles? When It Comes to Welfare and Aadhaar, Maybe They Do.
May 25, 2018
With few systematic studies of its impact on program beneficiaries, the debate on Aadhaar has, so far, seen more heat than light, but this is changing. The State of Aadhaar Report looks into many dimensions, including beneficiaries’ views of the new digital delivery systems, and the impact of ...
Blog Post
The Aadhaar Debate: Where Do We Go from Here?
April 13, 2018
Aadhaar, the world’s largest biometric ID program, is at a crossroads. After a remarkable effort to enroll almost the entire Indian population of 1.25 billion in just over half a decade, its impact on privacy and distribution public benefits are being called into question. ...
Blog Post
Are Biometric ID Systems Good for Women?
February 26, 2018
Can biometric IDs encourage women’s financial inclusion and economic and social empowerment? In principle, the answer should be yes. But the potential impact is limited by a range of other impediments that limit women’s participation.
Blog Post
If You’re Looking for Digital Opportunities in Davos, Here Are Some Big Ones
January 22, 2018
For the policymaker looking to improve services and the delivery of benefits, or for the financial institution trying to expand its customer base, the gap between technical solutions and the situation of the average technology user represents fertile ground for the many new opportunities that the di...
BRIEFS
Identification Revolution: Can Digital ID Be Harnessed for Development? (Brief)
January 16, 2018
Recent advances in the scope and sophistication of identification systems could have far-reaching consequences for development. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach, there are common features that ID systems should share if they are to support development.
BOOKS
Identification Revolution: Can Digital ID Be Harnessed for Development?
January 16, 2018
Identification Revolution: Can Digital ID Be Harnessed for Development? offers a balanced perspective, covering both the benefits and the risks of the identification revolution, and pinpointing opportunities to mitigate those risks.